American Heart Association Childhood Obesity Research Summit
Authors: Stephen R. Daniels, Marc S. Jacobson, Brian W. McCrindle, Robert H. Eckel, Brigid McHugh Sanner
Journal: Circulation (2009)

C hildhood obesity is one of the most pressing health threats facing the United States.Today, one third of American children and adolescents are obese or overweight.Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled for children 2 to 5 years of age and youth 12 to 19 years of age, and it has quadrupled for children 6 to 11 years old. 1The Problem: Childhood Obesity-A Burgeoning EpidemicOverweight children and adolescents are at risk for significant health problems both during their youth and as adults:• Overweight children and adolescents are more likely than other children and adolescents to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (eg, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes mellitus). 2• Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults. 3,4• Studies document the link between obesity and poor school performance and unhealthy or risky behaviors such as alcohol use, tobacco use, premature sexual behavior, inappropriate dieting practices, and physical inactivity. 5,6• Overweight children and adolescents may experience other health conditions associated with increased weight, which include asthma, hepatic steatosis, sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.• Obesity puts children at long-term higher risk for chronic conditions such as stroke; breast, colon, and kidney cancers; musculoskeletal disorders; and gall bladder disease.As part of its strategic focus on childhood obesity, particularly the prevention of childhood obesity, the American Heart Association convened a Childhood Obesity Research Summit to examine research opportunities where the obesity epidemic intersects with the healthcare system.The Childhood Obesity Research Summit provided an overview of childhood obesity, and participants identified key questions that need to be answered, as well as recommendations for future work in the areas of education, public policy, and research.The recommendations and outcomes of the conference will help inform the American Heart Association and the Alliance for a Healthy Generation broadly in terms that will help to focus ongoing research and public policy initiatives. Medical Consequences of Childhood ObesityThe increasing prevalence and severity of obesity in children and adolescents have resulted in a higher prevalence of comorbid conditions, including high blood pressure, early development of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary disorder, and disordered breathing during sleep. 7These complications can occur both in the short-term and in the long-term.Some complications, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, previously thought to only occur in adulthood, have now been shown to occur in children and adolescents.This has raised concerns about whether the obesity epidemic might shorten the lifespan of the current generation of children.There is still much to be learned about the mechanisms for obesity development and related comorbid conditions.Translational research perhaps will lead to information that will help to identify children at higher risk for excessive weight gain and for the development of specific adverse outcomes due to obesity.This type of mechanistic research could also inform moreThe American Heart Association makes every effort to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of an outside relationship or a personal, professional, or business interest of a member of the writing panel.Specifically, all members of the writing group are required to complete and submit a Disclosure Questionnaire showing all such relationships that might be perceived as real or potential conflicts of interest.The opinions expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors