Childhood Obesity in the Year 2001

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial, chronic condition that results from interplay between environment and genetics. The condition is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. The time has come to approach obesity as the most common chronic illness of childhood in industrialized countries. In recent years, there have been considerable advances in our understanding of the mechanisms involved in causing obesity. This article discusses the magnitude of the problem of obesity and highlights some of the advances in obesity research. This article also outlines new guidelines for the evaluation of overweight and obese children and adolescents and covers treatment options.