What Does “Overweight” Mean?
Most people who are overweight have too much body fat. The person who is overweight weighs more than is healthy, considering age, height, and whether the person is a boy or a girl (boys generally weigh more). The number of overweight kids has increased a lot over the last 30 years. Today, 15% of kids ages 6 to 19 are overweight. That’s bad news because being overweight can lead to health problems, like diabetes and heart disease. Overweight kids also may get teased by other kids or feel sad about the way they look. Most kids (60%) who took the KidsPoll said it was harder for overweight kids to make friends.