Obesity is a major health problem for people of all ages. About two-thirds of all Americans are overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a growing proportion are children or adolescents.

The CDC has found that the percentage of children ages 6 to 11 years who are overweight has more than doubled in the past 20-plus years (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). The percentage of children under age 5 who are overweight also appears to be on the rise. However, these rates may have hit a plateau because they have not risen since 1999, CDC data revealed in 2008.

The substantial rise in obesity rates appears to be the result of several factors, including increased consumption of fatty and sugary foods coupled with a more sedentary lifestyle. Health experts are concerned because obesity is the leading controllable risk factor of many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis and several types of cancer (e.g., breast, gallbladder, prostate). It is estimated that 61 percent of overweight youths have at least one additional risk factor for heart disease, according to the CDC.

The CDC reviewed the discharge records of hospitals nationwide from 1979 to 1999, specifically of children ranging in age from 6 to 17 years and analyzed the results for all obesity-related illnesses. The researchers found that the incidence of:

• Diabetes had nearly doubled
• Obesity and gallbladder disease tripled
• Sleep apnea increased five-fold

The CDC found that these illnesses in children combined to create hospital costs that have tripled as a direct result of childhood obesity. In addition to the high cost of health care for these children, there is an even greater cost in human life. For the general population, it is estimated that 300,000 deaths each year are directly related to obesity, according the CDC.

This makes obesity-related deaths second only to those related to smoking. Deaths due to poor diet and physical inactivity rose by 33 percent during a recent 10-year period and may soon surpass tobacco as the leading cause of death, according to the CDC.

Children grow at different rates and times, often making it difficult to determine whether or not they are overweight. Children are typically considered to be overweight or obese if they are heavier than 95 percent of peers of the same age and height (pursuant to the body mass index or BMI). Children may be at risk for becoming overweight if their BMI is between 85 and 95 percent.

Efforts to help children lose weight typically may not pay off right away. It is important to display patience with children who are trying to lose weight, and to focus initially more on the child’s efforts and less on results. It is also crucial for parents to communicate love and acceptance of their child, regardless of the child's weight. Children's self-esteem is often based on how parents feel about them.