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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Child overweight and obesity in the USA: prevalence rates according to IOTF definitions
Tim Lobstein1, Rachel Jackson-Leach
1International Obesity TaskForce, International Association for the Study of Obesity, London, UK.
Aims:
To establish the prevalence of child overweight and obesity in the USA using IOTF-recommended definitions.
Methods:
Original data from the NHANES surveys for 1999-2000 and 2003-2004 were analysed using the IOTF cut-offs and prevalence levels calculated using sample weightings provided.
Results:
In 1999-2000, overweight (including obesity) was affecting 29% of school-age children. By 2003-2004 this figure had risen above 35%. Obesity alone was affecting 10% of school children in the 1999-2000, and over 13% in 2003-2004.
Conclusion:
The United States is experiencing levels of child overweight and obesity that are among the highest recorded in any country in the world.
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