The Facts About Childhood Obesity

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled and today, nearly one in three children in America is overweight or obese. The numbers are even higher in African-American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese. If we don’t solve this problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma.

The American Heart Association is working hard to help defeat this issue both through advocacy and educational programs.  Check out this handy infographic to see some of the latest stats on childhood obesity and what we're doing as an organization.