National Obesity Statistics and Facts

• Nearly half of the children in North and South America will be overweight by 2010, up from what recent studies say is currently about one-third of the children in North and South America. (International Journal of Pediatric Obesity)
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that nearly one-third 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 II diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention)
• Obese children missed an average of four days of school a month, compared to less than a day for children at an average weight. (Pediatrics Magazine, 2005)
• Childhood obesity is one of the most critical public health problems today and threatens to reverse the last half century’s gains in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. (American Heart Association, 2005)
• Obese children are 5.5 times more likely to have an impaired quality of life than healthy kids, putting their life experience on par with that of kids undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2006)
• 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 1970s, 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. (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention)
• Between the late 1970s and the mid 1990s, the number of calories in food prepared away from home rose from 18% to 34%. Away from home foods are proven to be higher in fat and lower in fiber and calcium than foods prepared at home. (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)
• Only 8% of elementary schools, 6.4% of middle schools and 5.8% of high schools provide physical activity education. (Healthy Kids Challenge)
• The percentage of overweight African American, Hispanic and Native American children is about 20%. (The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports)
• There are predictions that the average life expectancy of Americans could decrease 2-5 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)
• Fast food consumption has increased fivefold among children since 1970. (Pediatrics Magazine, 2004)
• Nearly one-third of U.S. children aged four to nineteen eat fast food every day, resulting in approximately six extra pounds per year, per child. (National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, 2004)

Washington State Department of Health Statistics (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/nutritionpa/facts_and_figures/default.htm):

• One in 10 young people were overweight in 2004.
• Those who drink two or more sodas daily are more likely to be overweight than those who don’t.
• Most schools – 90 percent – have easy access to unhealthy snack foods.
• Most young people do not eat enough fruits and vegetables (less than 25% eat fruits and vegetables 5 or more times a day.)
• Several factors contribute to the increasing rates of overweight among children such as fewer opportunities for physical activity, fewer meals eaten at home, media and marketing that target children with food advertisements, increased portion sizes, and increased amount of time in sedentary activities, including watching television and using computers.
• Other factors, such as fetal weight gain, parental obesity, and the age at which a child’s “adiposity rebound” begins, also contribute to overweight and obesity among children.
• In 2006, 11% of 10th grade students in Washington were overweight and another 14% were at risk for being overweight.

The site also breaks down statistics by county.

• Snohomish County: http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/diabetes/publications/2010-profiles/Snohomish-10.pdf
• King County: http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/diabetes/publications/2010-profiles/King-10.pdf
• Pierce County: http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/diabetes/publications/2010-profiles/Pierce-10.pdf Close

The State of Washington's Children report: http://www.hspc.org/publications/pdf/hspc_AR_07_web.pdf (very good report.. also breaks stats down by economic status, ethnicity, etc.)

• 19% of children ages 6-11yrs are obese in WA
• 14% of children ages 2-5yrs are obese
• 17% of youth 12-19 years are obese
• 2/3 of American adults are obese
• 1/4 children in 8th, 10th & 12th grade are obese
• 30% of 8th graders reported they do not take PE at all

Healthy Youth Survey Results: https://www.askhys.net/PDF_Output/HYS92_Public516604209999999.PDF