Increasing incidence of childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity is a nutritional, metabolic and endocrine disease; all of these factors have genetic components. Attractive for writers and painters, it has been found to be a medical risk. Childhood obesity had been neglected until about 30 years ago. A series of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies performed in many countries using mainly BMI values as determinant of overweight have shown that there is an overall fast rise in overweight in many populations, usually starting around age 7. In certain populations and ethnic groups the rise and degree of obesity are especially high, such as the Hispano-Black and Native Americans and European countries. School children in the US, Greece, Ireland and Portugal are more overweight than those in 12 other countries. In addition to genetic factors, rapid changes in life style (more energy intake and less energy output) are the major factors causing childhood obesity. In recent years it has been recognized as a fast increasing public health problem.