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Introduction

by Blythe Hiss, BS, National Center on Physical Activity and Disability

Obesity has risen at an epidemic rate in the United States during the past 20 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has predicted that, if the trend continues at the current rate, 40 percent of the American population (68 million people) will be diagnosed as obese by 2010. This increase applies to both genders, all racial and ethnic groups, and all ages.

Since 1980, obesity rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents. Of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19, 16 percent "about 9 million young people" are considered overweight. An additional 15 percent of children and adolescents are at risk for being overweight, meaning they have a body mass index (BMI) for their age that falls between the 85th and 95th percentile.

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This fact sheet was last updated on 03-01-2007.