United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2006-12-06 monographic deposited born digital 27 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-260R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-260R P0b002ee18037e410 f:d07260r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-260R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-260R GAO-07-260R Adolescent health Children Health care planning Health statistics Medical research Obesity Physical fitness Preventive health care services Research reports Correspondence A63927 The latest data show continued increases in rates of childhood obesity. For example, obesity rates for children 6 to 11 years old are estimated to have increased from 15.1 to 18.8 percent between 1999 and 2004. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 20 percent of children and youth in the United States will be obese by 2010. There are numerous negative health outcomes and financial consequences related to childhood obesity. Researchers have found that childhood obesity is associated with a number of disorders including hypertension, insulin resistance, sleep apnea, menstrual abnormalities, and orthopedic problems. According to one estimate, insured children treated for obesity are approximately three times more expensive for the health system than the average insured child. Some researchers have suggested that childhood obesity is largely the result of a decline in regular physical activity. In our October 2005 report, we surveyed experts on the key strategies to include in the design or implementation of a program to prevent or reduce childhood obesity. The program strategy identified by experts as most important was "increasing physical activity." Congress asked us to provide information on the factors affecting physical activity in children. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-260R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-260R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-260R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-260R.pdf GAO-07-260R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-260R Correspondence GAO-07-260R; Childhood Obesity: Factors Affecting Physical Activity; Adolescent health Children Health care planning Health statistics Medical research Obesity Physical fitness Preventive health care services Research reports