3. Childhood Obesity
• Childhood obesity has more
than tripled in the past 30 years.
• The percentage of children aged
6–11 years in the United States
who were obese increased from
7% in 1980 to nearly 20% in
2008. Similarly, the percentage
of adolescents aged 12–19 years
who were obese increased from
5% to 18% over the same
period.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm 3
4. Childhood Obesity Facts
(cont’d)
• In 2008, more than one third of children and adolescents
were overweight or obese.
• Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a
particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a
combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having
excess body fat.
• Overweight and obesity are the result of ―caloric
imbalance‖—too few calories expended for the amount of
calories consumed—and are affected by various genetic,
behavioral, and environmental factors.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm 4
5. Local School Wellness Policy
• Each local educational agency
that participates in the National
School Lunch Program or
other child nutrition programs
is required by federal law to
establish a local school
wellness policy for all schools
under its jurisdiction.
• Local school wellness policies
are designed to promote
student health and reduce
childhood obesity.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/npao/wellness.htm 5
6. Let’s Move!
Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative,
launched by the First Lady, Michelle Obama. It
is dedicated to solving the challenge of
childhood obesity. Hopefully, children born
today will grow up healthier and be able to
pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive
strategies with common sense, Let's Move! is
about putting children on the path to a healthy
future during their earliest months and years by
providing healthier foods in our schools.
http://www.letsmove.gov/learn-facts/epidemic-childhood-obesity 6
