Childhood Obesity Quiz

According to statistics from a 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), about 17 percent of kids and teens ages 2 to 19 are obese.

Fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread chronic pain and affects the lives of about 5 million Americans, is believed to be linked to hormonal imbalances, chemical imbalances, stress, or trauma to the brain or spinal cord.

While poor diet, overeating and lack of exercise are the most common causes of weight problems in kids, obesity can also be caused by medical conditions such as hormonal problems, genetics, medications and emotional problems including depression.

Growth charts and BMI charts are two commonly used tools for comparing the height and weight of kids of the same age. The chart information is based on height, weight, gender and age, and they are specific to children (the BMI charts for adults are based on a different scale).

When a child's body weight is 10 percent higher than the average recommended for his or her height and body style, he or she is considered obese. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend screening for weight problems in children as young as 2 years old.

Obesity-related issues begin to surface between the ages of 5 and 6, as well as during adolescence. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, kids who are obese between the ages of 10 and 13 increase their risk of becoming obese adults by 80 percent.

Children who weigh between the 5th and 85th percentile are considered to be a healthy weight. Less than the 5th percentile is considered underweight while percentiles greater than 85 are considered to be at risk for weight problems, overweight or obese.

Researchers at San Francisco General Hospital and Columbia University estimate that adult obesity rates in 2020 will rise to numbers as high as 44 percent of women and 37 percent of men. Current adult obesity rates hover around 34 percent for all American adults.

According to the 'Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine,' Mississippi has the highest number of obese kids and teens -- roughly 22 percent.

Although both Nevada and Colorado had low rates of childhood obesity in 2003, in 2007, both states saw a rise in the weight of kids and teens ages 10 to 17. Based on data from 2007, only 9.6 percent of 10 to 17-year-olds in Oregon were considered to be obese.