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Childhood Obesity Prevention | Raising Healthy Kids
Corresponding Author(s) : Arohi Adhikari
The American Journal of Patient Health Info,
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026)
Abstract
- In the U.S, about one in five children is living with obesity, and the numbers are rising quickly.
- A child is overweight if their BMI is higher than 85% of kids their age and sex, and obese if it is higher than 95%.
- Poor food choices, low physical activity, long screen time, short sleep, genetics, early life factors, family habits, and some medications can lead to extra weight.
- Childhood obesity affects the heart, metabolism, liver, bones, hormones, and mental health, and raises the risk of diabetes and heart disease later.
- Children should eat 5 fruits and vegetables, have no more than 2 hours of screen time, get 1 hour of activity, and drink 0 sugary drinks each day.
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- Kerr JA, Patton GC, Cini KI, et al. Global, Regional, and National Prevalence of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity, 1990–2021, With Forecasts to 2050: A Forecasting Study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2025;405(10481). Available from: |Full Text|
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood Obesity Facts. CDC. 2024 Apr 2. Available from: |Full Text|
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity [Internet]. AAP.org; 2023. Available from: |Full Text|
- Endocrine Society. Pediatric Obesity—Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Jan 31; Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- Jebeile H, Kelly AS, O’Malley G, Baur LA, et al. Obesity in children and adolescents: epidemiology, causes, assessment, and management. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022 May;10(5):351–365. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221385872200047X
- Lieb DC, Snow RE, DeBoer MD. Socioeconomic Factors in the Development of Childhood Obesity and Diabetes. Clin Sports Med. 2009 Jul;28(3):349–378. Available from: |PubMed|
- Cardel MI, Atkinson MA, Taveras EM, et al. Obesity Treatment Among Adolescents. JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Jun 1;174(6):609–17. Available from: |PubMed|
- Mitchell EA, Stewart AW, Braithwaite I, et al. Factors Associated With Body Mass Index in Children and Adolescents: An International Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One. 2018 May 2;13(5):e0196221. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- UF Health. Causes and Risks for Obesity in Children [Internet]. UFHealth.org; 2022. Available from: |Full Text|
- Han JC, Lawlor DA, Kimm SY. Childhood Obesity. Lancet [Internet]. 2010 May;375(9727):1737–48. Available from: |PubMed|
- Robinson TN. Screen Media Exposure and Obesity in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2017 Nov;140(Suppl 2):S97–S101. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- Buchanan LR, et al. Reducing Recreational Sedentary Screen Time. Am J Prev Med. 2016 Mar;50(3):402–415. Available from: |PubMed|
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips to Support Healthy Routines for Children and Teens [Internet]. Healthy Weight and Growth; 2024 May 13. Available from: |Full Text|
- Hampl SE, Hassink SG, Skinner AC, et al. Executive Summary: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity. Pediatrics. 2023 Jan 9;151(2). Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- Yuksel HS, Sahin FN, Maksimovic N, et al. School-Based Intervention Programs for Preventing Obesity and Promoting Physical Activity and Fitness: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan;17(1):[page or article number]. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- American Academy of Pediatrics. ‘5-2-1-0’ Implementation Through Community Partnerships [Internet]. AAP.org; [cited 2026 Jan 6]. Available from: |Full Text|
- Smith JD, St George SM, Prado G. Family-Centered Positive Behavior Support Interventions in Early Childhood to Prevent Obesity. Child Dev. 2017 Feb;88(2):427–435. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- Khalsa AS, Kharofa R, Ollberding NJ, et al. Attainment of ‘5-2-1-0’ Obesity Recommendations in Preschool-Aged Children. Prev Med Rep. 2017 Dec;8:79–87. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- Christie D, Channon S. The Potential for Motivational Interviewing to Improve Outcomes in the Management of Diabetes and Obesity in Paediatric and Adult Populations: A Clinical Review. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2014 Sep;16(5):381–387. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- Chilman L, Kennedy-Behr A, Frakking T, et al. Picky Eating in Children: A Scoping Review to Examine Its Intrinsic and Extrinsic Features and How They Relate to Identification. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 27;18(17):9067. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- Umekar S, Joshi A. Obesity and Preventive Intervention Among Children: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2024 Feb;16(2):[page or article number]. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
- City University of New York. My Child Plate Planner [Internet]. 2021 Jun [cited 2025 Aug 16]. Available from: |Full Text|
References
Kerr JA, Patton GC, Cini KI, et al. Global, Regional, and National Prevalence of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity, 1990–2021, With Forecasts to 2050: A Forecasting Study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2025;405(10481). Available from: |Full Text|
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood Obesity Facts. CDC. 2024 Apr 2. Available from: |Full Text|
American Academy of Pediatrics. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity [Internet]. AAP.org; 2023. Available from: |Full Text|
Endocrine Society. Pediatric Obesity—Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Jan 31; Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
Jebeile H, Kelly AS, O’Malley G, Baur LA, et al. Obesity in children and adolescents: epidemiology, causes, assessment, and management. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022 May;10(5):351–365. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221385872200047X
Lieb DC, Snow RE, DeBoer MD. Socioeconomic Factors in the Development of Childhood Obesity and Diabetes. Clin Sports Med. 2009 Jul;28(3):349–378. Available from: |PubMed|
Cardel MI, Atkinson MA, Taveras EM, et al. Obesity Treatment Among Adolescents. JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Jun 1;174(6):609–17. Available from: |PubMed|
Mitchell EA, Stewart AW, Braithwaite I, et al. Factors Associated With Body Mass Index in Children and Adolescents: An International Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One. 2018 May 2;13(5):e0196221. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
UF Health. Causes and Risks for Obesity in Children [Internet]. UFHealth.org; 2022. Available from: |Full Text|
Han JC, Lawlor DA, Kimm SY. Childhood Obesity. Lancet [Internet]. 2010 May;375(9727):1737–48. Available from: |PubMed|
Robinson TN. Screen Media Exposure and Obesity in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2017 Nov;140(Suppl 2):S97–S101. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
Buchanan LR, et al. Reducing Recreational Sedentary Screen Time. Am J Prev Med. 2016 Mar;50(3):402–415. Available from: |PubMed|
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips to Support Healthy Routines for Children and Teens [Internet]. Healthy Weight and Growth; 2024 May 13. Available from: |Full Text|
Hampl SE, Hassink SG, Skinner AC, et al. Executive Summary: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity. Pediatrics. 2023 Jan 9;151(2). Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
Yuksel HS, Sahin FN, Maksimovic N, et al. School-Based Intervention Programs for Preventing Obesity and Promoting Physical Activity and Fitness: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan;17(1):[page or article number]. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
American Academy of Pediatrics. ‘5-2-1-0’ Implementation Through Community Partnerships [Internet]. AAP.org; [cited 2026 Jan 6]. Available from: |Full Text|
Smith JD, St George SM, Prado G. Family-Centered Positive Behavior Support Interventions in Early Childhood to Prevent Obesity. Child Dev. 2017 Feb;88(2):427–435. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
Khalsa AS, Kharofa R, Ollberding NJ, et al. Attainment of ‘5-2-1-0’ Obesity Recommendations in Preschool-Aged Children. Prev Med Rep. 2017 Dec;8:79–87. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
Christie D, Channon S. The Potential for Motivational Interviewing to Improve Outcomes in the Management of Diabetes and Obesity in Paediatric and Adult Populations: A Clinical Review. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2014 Sep;16(5):381–387. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
Chilman L, Kennedy-Behr A, Frakking T, et al. Picky Eating in Children: A Scoping Review to Examine Its Intrinsic and Extrinsic Features and How They Relate to Identification. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 27;18(17):9067. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
Umekar S, Joshi A. Obesity and Preventive Intervention Among Children: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2024 Feb;16(2):[page or article number]. Available from: |PubMed| |Full Text|
City University of New York. My Child Plate Planner [Internet]. 2021 Jun [cited 2025 Aug 16]. Available from: |Full Text|