Obesity is a health problem that has increasingly affected children of all ages. Children are typically considered to be overweight or obese if they are heavier than 95 percent of peers of the same age and height.

Children who are overweight or obese may experience many health problems and are at higher risk of being diagnosed with potentially life-threatening or debilitating conditions later in life, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, osteoarthritis and several types of cancer.

The percentage of children ages 6 to 11 years who are overweight has more than doubled in recent decades (from 7 to 19 percent) and the rate of overweight adolescents ages 12 to 19 years has more than tripled (from 5 to 17 percent), according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The good news is that these rates have not risen in the past decade, federal data revealed in 2008.

The substantial rise in obesity rates appears to be the result of several factors, including a more sedentary lifestyle coupled with increased consumption of fatty and sugary foods. Genetics also plays a role, as genes help determine a child's body type and how the body stores and burns fat. Inadequate sleep may also be a factor.

Children who are overweight or obese can experience many different symptoms. These may include problems with bones or joints, or shortness of breath during exercise or sports. They also may experience related health problems, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

A physician can determine if a child is overweight or obese. A common standard for measuring obesity is the body mass index (BMI), which uses a person's height and weight to estimate body fat. The physician will also ask about a child's family history, eating habits and patterns of physical activity.

Changes to diet and exercise are common ways to treat and prevent childhood obesity.