This report examines the current state of childhood obesity in the U.S. and focuses on parents’ opinions on obesity’s cause, its prevalence and things that parents—and children—can do to combat it.
- Childhood obesity rates have leveled off—but that is not necessarily all good. Too many children currently suffer from obesity; the leveling off may not indicate an improvement in the overall situation but may instead represent the point at which “there are no more kids who can be overweight” because of genetics and overall predisposition to the condition - This report looks at the two major contributors to childhood obesity: eating habits and exercise habits. Children tend towards overweight or obesity when the “energy in/energy out” balance tips towards the former and kids do not exercise enough to expend the calories they take in through eating. The sedentary lifestyle of most kids contributes to this situation - Also examined in this report are the efforts being made to improve the situation, by all stakeholders—from parents and schools, to food companies, the children themselves and others - Parents’ opinions about the obesity situation among children are discussed in detail, with a special focus on the opinions and actions of parents whose children have been diagnosed as overweight or obese
