Childhood Obesity Results Studied

Childhood Obesity Results Studied

Adult obesity in the United States has been a growing concern for decades. As one obese generation begins raising the next generation, however, the issue is beginning to spread to children of younger and younger ages.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, infants may be at risk for obesity in later life. It should be noted that the data from the study only goes back to 2001 for the results are not totally conclusive.

The data used in the study was based on some 16,400 children who were born in the U.S. 10 years ago. The data showed that 32 percent of 9 month old children were either obese (17%) or at risk of becoming obese (15%). By 24 months the numbers had grown to 21% obese and 14% at risk.

This data was somewhat fluid, however, in that the not every at risk or obese infant stayed that way, and vice versa. Ultimately is appears that, as common sense would predict, diet, sleeping habits and activity are the controlling factors for determining the child’s weight.