What is FDA doing to lower/reduce the risk of childhood obesity?

FDA is working to protect the health of America’s children and ultimately reduce the burden of obesity by food labeling and education campaigns.  Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of all children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese in the United Sates. This is triple the rate from just 1980s. Obese kids are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol (risk for heart disease), Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and asthma, heartburn and other digestive problems, and mental health conditions, which can continue into adult life. Childhood obesity is mostly the result of eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity. There is no single and simple solution to resolve childhood obesity.

There are no medications approved for use in children to control obesity. FDA recently approved two medications for long-term weight management in adults. They were not studied in children and are NOT approved for use in children under 18 years of age.

Here are resources to help you to manage child obesity:

• Nutrition Basics Help Fight Child Obesity
• Questions and Answers - The FDA's Obesity Working Group Report