Overweight in Children

AHA Recommendation

Overweight children are more likely to be overweight adults. Successfully preventing or treating overweight in childhood may reduce the risk of adult overweight. This may help reduce the risk of heart disease and other diseases.

When defining overweight in children and adolescents, it's important to consider both weight and body composition.

Among American children ages 6–11, the following are overweight, using the 95^th percentile or higher of body mass index (BMI) values on the CDC 2000 growth chart:

• For non-Hispanic whites, 16.9 percent of boys and 15.6 percent of girls.
• For non-Hispanic blacks, 17.2 percent of boys and 24.8 percent of girls.
• For Mexican Americans, 25.6 percent of boys and 16.6 percent of girls.

Among adolescents ages 12–19, the following are overweight, using the 95^th percentile or higher of BMI values on the CDC 2000 growth chart:

• For non-Hispanic whites, 17.9 percent of boys and 14.6 percent of girls.
• For non-Hispanic blacks, 17.7 percent of boys and 23.8 percent of girls.
• For Mexican Americans, 20.0 percent of boys and 17.1 percent of girls.
  

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