ABSTRACT
In the past 25 years, the percentage of overweight adolescents has more than doubled. Approximately 30.4 % of adolescents are overweight and 15.5 % are obese. Female and male adolescents have similar rates of being overweight at 30.2 % and 30.5 % , respectively. Overweight children, aged 10-14, with at least one overweight parent, were reported to have a 79 % likelihood of being overweight adults. 2
According to NHANES 1999-2000 data, 15 % of children and adolescents aged 6-19 years were considered overweight; an additional 15 % were ‘at risk’ for becoming overweight. In total, 30 % of children and adolescents were either overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Only approximately 6 % of children and adolescents were considered overweight in the NHANES study conducted in 1972-1974 ( Figure 23.1 ).
