Prevalence of Childhood Obesity Has Plateaued

Despite efforts to reduce the high rate of childhood obesity, prevalence has not declined.

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the prevalence of obesity (body-mass index [BMI] for age ≥95th percentile) in children and adolescents tripled to 17% between 1980 and 1999, but prevalence did not significantly change between 1999 and 2006. Has the prevalence plateaued? To examine the most recent trends in obesity, investigators used data from a representative sample of 3281 children (age range, 2–19 years) and 719 infants (age, <2 years) in the 2007–2008 NHANES survey.

In 2007–2008, 9.5% of infants had weight for recumbent length ≥95th percentile. Among children, 11.9% had BMIs ≥97th percentile, 16.9% had BMIs ≥95th percentile, and 31.7% had BMIs ≥85th percentile. In analysis of trends be…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Prevalence of Childhood Obesity Has Plateaued

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Reviewing Author