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Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity

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Abstract

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions among children and youth in the United States. Surveys indicate that the number of overweight children aged 6 to 17 years has doubled within three decades. In the decade between the late 1970s and the late 1980s, the prevalence of overweight increased from 7.6% to 10.9% for children aged 6 to 11 years, and from 5.7% to 10.8% for adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Data for 1999 indicates that the epidemic is continuing to increase, so that 13% of 6- to 11-year-old children and 14% of 12- to 19-year- old children are currently overweight (body mass index ≥95th percentile for age/gender). This article reviews newer concepts related to etiologic factors, comorbidities, and strategies for prevention and treatment.

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Williams, C.L., Gulli, M.T. & Deckelbaum, R.J. Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Curr Atheroscler Rep 3, 486–497 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-001-0039-2

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