Obesity in children and adolescents--a new epidemic? Consequences in adult life.

Obesity is one of the most common health problems among children and adolescents, with documented increases in prevalence. The highest rates of obesity are observed in the United States and eastern and southern European countries. The increasing trend of obesity among children could be the result of environmental and cultural changes related to physical inactivity in modern society. Persistence of obesity from childhood or adolescence into adulthood has been consistently demonstrated in all populations in which it has been studied. Childhood and adolescent obesity have a significant impact on later mortality and morbidity in adulthood. Many of the metabolic and cardiovascular complications and some forms of cancer associated with adult obesity have their onset in childhood, and understanding of the relationships between childhood and adolescent obesity and obesity in adulthood is of value in efforts to try to introduce adequate measures for its treatment and prevention.