Obesity rates in the United States have doubled in children and nearly quadrupled in adolescents since the 1980s. That's according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. And as Reno Public Radio's Esther Ciammachilli reports, Nevada ranks high among states with the worst rates.
Nevada has the 16th highest childhood obesity rate in the nation, with more than 33 percent of children ages 2-19 dealing with this condition.
Dr. Stephanie Wright is a physician at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. She says children who are overweight or obese are more at risk for...
"...high cholesterol, bone and joint aches and pains even at a young age, high blood pressure and obstructive sleep apnea even in children if they're severely overweight," Wright says.
Some of the long-term effects include heart disease, and increased risk of stroke and cancer.
Wright says the best treatment for childhood obesity is changes in lifestyle, which include healthier food choices and increased physical activity.