Childhood Obesity: How Can It Be Avoided?

Welcome to “Ask the Expert,” a UTHealth Houston news series where our leading experts examine pressing health challenges. In this edition, we address child obesity to support Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

Childhood obesity is one of the most significant public health issues that affects today’s youth. National data from 2021-23 show that 21.1% of U.S. children ages 2-19 have obesity; 7% of those children have severe obesity.

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