Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States resulting in medical illnesses and shortened lifespans; You need to take steps to eat a healthy diet and incorporate exercise into your daily life. Among today's children, obesity is causing a wide range of health problems that were previously not seen until adulthood. These include heart disease, respiratory disease, bone fractures and diabetes. There are also psychological effects; Obese children are more likely to have low self-esteem, negative body image, eating disorders and depression. Excess weight at a young age has led to higher and earlier death rates in adulthood. This document will identify strategies that can be used to help reduce the incidence of obesity. Maintaining a healthy weight as well as overall health and well-being requires a balanced nutritious diet and commitment to physical activity. In today's society, children and adolescents are less likely to eat healthily and exercise due to modern conveniences such as computers, cars and fast food. Childhood obesity has more than doubled among children and quadrupled among adolescents over the past 30 years (http://www.cdc.gov/healthyouth/obesity/fcats.htm). From 1980 to 2004 the percentage of obese youth tripled, from 7% to 19% in children (6-11 years) and from 5% to 17% in adolescents (12-19 years) (“Nihiser”). In the United States, approximately one in five children is overweight or obese, and this number continues to increase. (http://www.webmd.com/children/guide/obesity-children?print=true). Childhood obesity has direct and long-lasting effects on health and well-being. The immediate health effects of obese youth are that they are more likely to develop risk factors for cardiovascular factors... middle of paper... k. February 15, 2014. March 23, 2014. Ogden, Cynthia, Childhood Obesity in the United States: the magnitude of the problem, http://www.cdc.gov/about/grandrounds/archives/2010/download/GR-062010. pdfA third of children tested have borderline or high cholesterol. Heartwire March 28, 2014. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/822662.Rogers, Victoria The Maine Experience Let's Go http://www.cdc.gov/about/grandrounds/archives/2010/download/GR- 062010 .pdfwebmd. http://www.cdc.gov. Ed. webmd. and webmd. .“What is childhood obesity?” Heart.org. January 10, 2013. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealtthierKids/Childhood Obesity/What -is-childhood-obesity_UCM_304347_Article.jsp>.