Obesity Stats & Facts

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that nearly 1/3 of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight --increasing the chances they will develop health problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
(Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, CDC)

Children who are overweight are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
(National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

Since the early 1970's, the number of overweight children ages 2-5 and 12-19 has doubled and the number of overweight children ages 6-11 has tripled. Today, more than 16% of young people ages 6-19 are overweight.
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

There is a strong likelihood that being overweight as a child will lead to being overweight as an adult- an almost 80% chance that overweight adolescents will be overweight as adults.
(Centers For Disease Control and Prevention)

Nine million children are now considered to be overweight.
(CDC)

Between 1970 and 1995, food purchased away from home went from 25% to 45%. Away from home foods are proven to be higher in fat and lower in fiber and calcium than home foods.
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Obesity-associated annual hospital costs for children and youth more than tripled over two decades, rising from $35 million in 1979-1981 to $127 million in 1997-1999.
(Institute of Medicine of the National Academies)

The percentage of overweight African American, Hispanic, and Native American children is about 20%.
(The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports)

Some authors predict that the average life expectancy of Americans could decrease 2 to 5 years in the coming decades as a result of the effects of obesity.
(The New England Journal of Medicine)

Obesity is second only to tobacco use as a threat to public health.
(Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. July 2005)