Childhood obesity is one of the most important health problems facing the United States, if not the rest of the world. In an insightful article, David Ludwig describes Phase I of this crisis starting in the 1970s and ongoing where average weight increases among children from all demographic categories. However, this has little impact on medical care because an overweight or obese child may remain healthy for many years. Phase II which he describes we are now entering is marked by the emergence of serious health-related problems, such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, orthopedic problems and sleep apnea. Phase III, in the future, will see these problems evolve into life-threatening diseases, notably coronary heart diseases. He predicts that by mid-century, pediatric obesity will shorten life expectancy by 2 to 5 years..equal to all cancers combined. NEJM — Childhood Obesity — The Shape of Things to Come. His prediction, in my view, is unlikely to be disproved. New studies point to already significant increases in hospitalizations and costs associated with childhood obesity. Effects Of Childhood Obesity On Hospital Care And Costs, 1999-2005 — Trasande et al. 28 (4): w751 — Health AffairsThe seriousness of this problem should be compared to the seriousness and comprehensiveness of policy-makers thus far. MD
Prevalence
CDC Growth Charts N C H S – 2000 C D C Growth Charts: United States
State childhood obesity prevalence rates http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/images/stories/csg_ff_childhoodobesity1.pdf
Childhood obesity: trends and potential causes. [Future Child. 2006] – PubMed Result
Severe obesity in children increasing Prevalence and Trends of Severe Obesity Among US C…[Acad Pediatr. 2009] – PubMed Result
Prevalence and Trends of Severe Obesity Among US C…[Acad Pediatr. 2009] – PubMed Result
Weight status in the first 6 months of life and ob…[Pediatrics. 2009] – PubMed Result
General
See CDC Growth Charts Growth Charts – 2000 CDC Growth Charts – United States
See the Childhood Obesity Assessment Calculator from Shape Up! America Obesity Assessment
Childhood obesity and predictors of adult obesity Childhood predictors of adult obesity: a systemati…[Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1999] – PubMed Result
Maternal Influence
Maternal Influence, Gestational Diabetes Metabolic syndrome in childhood: association with …[Pediatrics. 2005] – PubMed Result
Maternal perception of weight status and health ri…[Pediatrics. 2009] – PubMed Result
Family Circumstances
Do childhood social circumstances affect overweigh…[Scand J Public Health. 2009] – PubMed Result
Child Health and Wellbeing
The impact of overweight and obesity on health-rel…[BMC Public Health. 2008] – PubMed Result
Health-related quality of life among children and …[Int J Obes (Lond). 2006] – PubMed Result
Pediatric Obesity Screening, Assessment and Treatment
US Govt Recommendations for screening and treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity Screening and Interventions for Childhood Overweight: A Summary of Evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force — Whitlock et al. 116 (1): e125 — Pediatrics
Screening and Treatment Recommendations Screening and interventions for childhood overweig…[Pediatrics. 2005] – PubMed Result
Identifying risk for obesity in early childhood. [Pediatrics. 2006] – PubMed Result
Reducing obesity and related chronic disease risk …[Obes Rev. 2006] – PubMed Result
Effectiveness of intervention programs Effectiveness of weight management programs in chi…[Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2008] – PubMed Result
Fat or Fit? Risks among 12-13 year olds. Relationship of fitness, fatness, and coronary-hea…[Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2007] – PubMed Result
Interventions for preventing obesity in children. [Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005] – PubMed Result
Child Care state Regulations and obesity Obesity prevention in child care: a review of U.S….[BMC Public Health. 2008] – PubMed Result
Small changes won’t help stop obesity in overweight children. Reductions of 300-500 calories per day needed ARS | Publication request: Halting the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity
Energy dense foods not affect female adolescents Energy-dense snack food intake in adolescence: lon…[Obes Res. 2004] – PubMed Result
Myths about childhood obesity Myths about childhood obesity. [Pediatr Ann. 1992] – PubMed Result
Societal Trends and Childhood Obesity: Part I: Preventing Chronic Disease: January 2005: 04_0038 Part II: Preventing Chronic Disease: April 2005: 04_0039
Children’s weight worsens at home, away from school Well – Summer Is a Nutrition Challenge for Parents and Children – NYTimes.com
Identifying high risk children Identifying risk for obesity in early childhood. [Pediatrics. 2006] – PubMed Result
Early determinants of risk Early determinants of overweight at 4.5 years in a…[Int J Obes (Lond). 2006] – PubMed Result
Youth Risk Behaviors Documented Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — Selected Steps Communities, United States, 2007
Associated with obesity in children Prevalence of Obesity Among Children With Chronic …[Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009] – PubMed Result