Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine childhood overweight and obesity. Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and below the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s.
Because obesity is not a condition that children typically grow out of, it is an urgent issue as the added weight increases risk for heart disease, asthma, sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, liver and renal disease, reproductive dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and other conditions.
It is important that parents and caregivers join forces with schools and the community in order to support the well-being of all students, as it does take a village to raise healthy children whose habits will continue into adulthood. Please read more by clicking the PDF link:
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