ABSTRACT

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic and has become a public health priority in developed countries [1,2]. Over the past few decades, prevalence rates of childhood obesity have tripled, with recent estimates indicating that 16.9% and 8.6% of children are obese in United States and Canada respectively [3-6]. Obesity negatively impacts a child’s self esteem and

results in diminished quality of life [7]. Moreover, children with high body mass index (BMI) often become obese adults, who are at increased risk of developing obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer, and place significant financial burden on healthcare systems [8-10].