According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, as recently as 2008 nearly 17% of kids in the U.S. are obese, which is triple the percentage in 1980 and amounts to no less than an epidemic. There are myriad reasons for the catastrophic rise in obese kids, but the bottom line is that today’s children are consuming too many calories and exerting too little energy. Moreover, the number of chronic and severe diseases and health conditions associated with obesity—including diabetes and cancer—indicates that without some type of solution the kids of today will be the patients of tomorrow. This report provides close analysis of these factors, as well as in-depth examination of the following:

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, as recently as 2008 nearly 17% of kids in the U.S. are obese, which is triple the percentage in 1980 and amounts to no less than an epidemic. There are myriad reasons for the catastrophic rise in obese kids, but the bottom line is that today’s children are consuming too many calories and exerting too little energy. Moreover, the number of chronic and severe diseases and health conditions associated with obesity—including diabetes and cancer—indicates that without some type of solution the kids of today will be the patients of tomorrow. This report provides close analysis of these factors, as well as in-depth examination of the following:

The role of environment in childhood obesity, including lack of nutritious foods in many schools; a dearth of safe and adequate places to exercise in many low-income areas; and poor nutrition and exercise regimes in many homes

The gradual increase in portion sizes over the years and the proliferation of fast-food chains, which market aggressively to kids

The higher costs of healthy foods and how that impacts children’s nutrition when many parents are struggling with tighter household budgets

How potential underreporting of childhood obesity can occur and how parents may be unwilling to recognize the problem in their own kids

Innovations in food manufacturing and advertising that may contribute to a solution

Marketing strategies of companies that are making inroads, large and small, into helping the anti-obesity cause