Childhood obesity is a condition in which children are significantly overweight for their age and height. Obesity at a young age in children may lead to having high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, breathing problems, asthma, sleep apnea, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and can also lead to children having diabetes. Sometimes individuals do not realize or notice any signs of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or even know that they have diabetes the only sign they will show is being overweight. One of the leading chronic diseases throughout the world is actually obesity and it is the topmost leading cause here in the United States mortality, morbidity, disability, lastly healthcare cost adds up to billions of dollars in preventable spending each and every year. Obesity is having excess amounts of adipose tissue also known as fatty tissue which is a connective tissue that mainly consists of fat cells, it secretes products such as lipids and metabolit
es. Excess amounts of lipids and metabolites may lead to insulin resistance which can then lead to type two diabetes. It is said that about 17 percent of children are considered to be obese which puts them at high risk for a range of different health problems. In the United States, the percentage of children who have obesity has astonishingly tripled since the 1970s. 1 out of 5 children from ages 6 to 19 have obesity. The way obesity is identified is by an individual’s BMI (body mass index). BMI is a screening tool used for measuring obesity and overweight, the BMI percentile is usually just measured for young adults and children. Children with a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and less than the 95th percentile are considered to be overweight. Children with a percentile that is higher than 95 are considered obese. Parents need to focus on improving their childrens diet and their exercise habits which is one of the best ways for children to achieve a healthy weight.