More On Childhood Obesity

Here are two more studies that further validate the childhood obesity problem. The first study comes from a study published in Clinical Pediatrics on Feb. 11 by Harrington et al. They found that half of obese children became obese by 24 months of age and 90% before 60 months (see Figure 1 below). Their findings dispel the notion that a child will lose their "baby fat" as they get older.

The second study by Franks et al published in The New England Journal of Medicine also on Feb. 11 found children and adolescents in the upper quartile for BMI, glucose intolerance and high blood pressure (indicated by the green lines in the figure below) have increased rates of premature death compare to those in the lowest quartile (black lines).

Linking the two studies together suggests that childhood obesity begins as early as age two and regardless of when it begins, children who become obese don't live as long. Who says physical education is not need in our schools? By physical education I mean PE that promotes lifetime physical activities.