More than half of U.S. children will have obesity as adults if current trends continue

[DesertRat]

If current trends in child obesity continue, more than 57% of today’s children in the U.S. will have obesity at age 35, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The study also found that excess weight in childhood is predictive of adult obesity, even among young children, and that only children currently at a healthy weight have less than a 50% chance of having obesity as adults. The findings were based on a rigorous simulation model that provides the most accurate predictions to date of obesity prevalence at various ages.

“Adult obesity is linked with increased risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer,” said Zachary Ward, programmer/analyst at Harvard Chan School’s Center for Health Decision Science and lead author of the study. “Our findings highlight the importance of prevention efforts for all children as they grow up, and of providing early interventions for children with obesity to minimize their risk of serious illness in the future.”

Given the high risk posed to children, senior author Steven Gortmaker, professor of the practice of health sociology at Harvard Chan School, said, “It is critically important to implement policies and programs to prevent excess weight gain, starting at an early age. Plenty of cost-effective strategies have been identified that promote healthy foods, beverages, and physical activity within school and community settings.”

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/childhood-obesity-risk-as-adults/

[Stuart G]

1. This is a problem that is..never discussed. But adult obesity is a major problem now.

This article discusses the children that overeat often become the adults that overeat....Oh..just to make a note: about a third of the U.S. population is dangerously overweight.

[Codeine]

2. I've noticed most of the kids here in southern California

seem much slimmer than even ten years ago, when a huge proportion of them were clearly obese. My daughter's middle school classmates are, for the most part, at a healthy weight.

[snooper2]

3. I was just at my daughters grade school last week for her reading competition

I was leaning against the wall waiting in the cafeteria with other parents watching kids come out of classrooms. Sad the number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders you see that are already overweight. Her school is really diverse and you can tell it is a cultural thing as well. I didn't see a single kid from Indian descent was overweight.

Pulling a number out of my ass I would guesstimate around 1 in 13 or 15 was already getting pretty "chunky"