ABSTRACT
Pediatric obesity is associated with a broad range of health problems, including dyslipidemia and hypertension, which are established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Several risk factors are important for the development of CVD, including family history of CVD, obesity, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and cigarette smoking. Childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in the United States remains a major health problem. It is estimated that approximately 17% of US children between the ages of two and nineteen years are obese, and 31.8% are overweight or obese. Several lifestyle-related behaviors are considered risk factors for the development of childhood overweight and obesity. Dietary factors that increase the risk of excessive energy intake relative to energy expenditure include regular intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, greater intakes of fast food, increased intakes of dietary fats and added sugars, and eating larger portions of food.
