Childhood obesity is considered one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st
century. Obesity can be harmful to nearly every system in a child's body - heart and lungs,
muscles and boneskidneys as well as the hormones that control blood sugar and puberty. What's
worse, youth who are overweight or obese are likely to remain overweight or obese into adulthood,
increasing their risk of disease ab disability later in life.
Globally, an estimated 43 million preschool children under age 5 were overweight or obese in 2010,
a 60% increase since 1990. The problem affects countries rich and poor, and places the greatest
burden on the poorest. Of the world's 43 million overweight and obese preschoolers, 35 million live
in developing countries. By 2020, if the current epidemic continues, 9% of all preschoolers will
be overweight or obese - nearly 60 million children.
Obesity rates are higher in adults than in children. But in relative terms, the U.S., Brazil, China,
and other countries have seen the problem arise more rapidly in children.
Of course, some regions still struggle hard with child hanger, such as Southeastern Asia and
sub-Saharan Africa. But globalizaion has made the world wealthier, and wealth and weight are linked.