Childhood obesity is a serious and chronic medical condition wherein a child is well above the normal weight suitable for age and height resulting children to develop health problems that are often confined only to adults such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Calculation of body mass index (BMI) is usually used by doctors to determine if a child is obese for his/her age and height.

Improving the diet and physical activity of the child is one effective approach to treating obesity; focused on the primary goal to lose weight and in mild cases avoid gaining additional weight. Obese adolescents may be prescribed with weight-loss medications such as sibutramine and orlistat to prevent fat absorption in the intestines; however the effectiveness of these weight-loss medicines cannot replace the need to follow a healthy diet and exercise program. For adolescents who are cannot benefit from conventional methods of losing weight, weight-loss surgery can be an effective and safe method.

Childhood obesity is a serious and chronic medical condition wherein a child is well above the normal weight suitable for age and height resulting children to develop health problems that are often confined only to adults such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Childhood obesity is commonly caused by unhealthy eating patterns such as eating food with high fat and high energy content, lack of physical activity or a combination of both in association with genetics and lifestyle.