The Rising Rates of Adolescent Obesity

About 20% of adolescents in the United States between the ages of 12 and 18 live with obesity, a statistic that has been on the rise since the mid-1970s. Various complications associated with this condition include prediabetes, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, all of which can have serious long-term health impacts. These health issues often manifest as low HDL cholesterol levels, high triglycerides, liver disease, and musculoskeletal problems. The complex nature of obesity is influenced not only by lifestyle factors like screen time but also by biological predispositions and an environment that promotes obesity, highlighting the multifactorial causes behind this growing crisis.