The Center for Weight Management

12 million or 15.3 percent of children in the US are obese.
35 percent of children in Michigan are obese.
30 percent of children and teens in the US are considered overweight.
The number of seriously overweight children and adolescents has increased 50 percent since 1960.
Childhood obesity is the leading cause of sustained high blood pressure in children.
An overweight adolescent has a 70 percent chance of becoming an obese adult.
Children are becoming heavier due to a decrease in physical activity, (modern transportation, television, computers, and video games), combined with the increasing availability of higher calorie foods (fast foods, high fat convenience foods and snacks).
The average child spends 30 hours per week in front of the TV!
If not controlled, childhood obesity can lead to the adult onset of diabetes, high cholesterol, joint disease, menstrual irregularities, and other hormonal disorders.
Common causes of weight gain:
Eating large portions of food
Constant snacking
Eating fried or other high fat foods
Eating junk foods
Using foods as a reward
Eating in front of the TV
Besides the associated health risks, overweight children are often teased and picked on by their peers. This may lead to low self-esteem, depression, and a feeling of inadequacy.
According to US News and World Report, “Children shown pictures obese kids as well as kids with various disabilities-facial deformities and missing limbs, for example-said they would choose the obese child last as a friend.”
Children get over 25% of their calories from sweetened drinks.
Obesity rates in children have doubled since 1980.
In the top 20 restaurants nation wide, the top foods on the children's menu were fried chicken, hamburger or cheeseburger, and French fries.

Source: Jeanette Waite, MS, RD, CDE, Dietician at Mercy H.E.A.R.T. Center