As with adults, the prevalence of obesity in the young varies by ethnic group.
Some data indicate that obesity among children is on the increase.
Back to the Top Defining Obesity in Children and Adolescents Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. A trained technician may obtain skinfold measures relatively easily in either a school or clinical setting. The triceps alone, triceps and subscapular, triceps and calf, and calf alone have been used with children and adolescents. Not all obese infants become obese children, and not all obese children become obese adults. Obesity presents numerous problems for the child.