Childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is a problem that is increasing (Blessing, 1986). According to Dietz, (cited in Blessing, 1986), the number of obese children between the ages of twelve and seventeen increased by 39 percent between 1963 and 1980. Obesity increased for children in the six to eleven year old range by 54 percent during this same time frame. Plimpton (1987) cited a number of studies which indicated that 25 percent of American children are obese and that 80 percent of those obese children will become obese adults. The criteria used to define obesity in various studies range from 15 percent or more overweight (Epstein, Koeske, & Wing, 1983; Isbitsky & White, 1981; Mendelson & White, 1982) to 20 percent or more overweight (Epstein, Wing, Koeske & Valoski, 1984; Kirschenbaum, Harris & Tamarken, 1984; Wadden, Foster, Brownell & Finley, 1984)