Summary: Childhood obesity is a national health epidemic and doctors are calling for an emergency.According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), obesity leads to shorter life spans, lower quality of life, and numerous chronic medical problems, many of which now begin during childhood. Experts fear that the current generation of children might live shorter lives than their parents due to the long-term effects of obesity. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a way to measure your child's risk for obesity. The rating is based on your child's weight and height. The AAP advises that if a child's BMI is at or above the 85th percentile, he or she falls under the overweight category. This is a risk factor for obesity and other future medical problems. What if your child is already overweight? How can you help prevent more weight gain and the risk of obesity? Cori Cross, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the childhood obesity crisis and how you can prevent and stop obesity in your child.
