The government has decided to use only weight data gathered before 1988, the date children age 6 and older started to become markedly heavier. Before 1988, about 6 percent of less of American children ages 6 through 17 were overweight. Since then, the number has jumped to about 11 percent of all children. The answer is painfully obvious, many children eat too much and exercise to little. Doctors say that while it would be great if children participated in organized sports, it doesn't take that much to make a difference.
Many children are couch potatoes, watching ads for high fat foods on television.
The new growth charts are due out this fall. In some ways, they will be more up to date, they'll include more information on minority children, for example. But when it comes to weight, doctors say it's healthier to compare today's children to yesterday's children.