Irene Alton
Obesity is a disorder of energy metabolism involving excessive adipose tissue stores (body fatness),
which may be associated with medical or psychosocial morbidity. The prevalence, as well as the
severity of obesity in adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate, making it one of the most serious
health problems affecting this age group.
According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-
2000), approximately 30% of adolescents are at risk for overweight (≥ 85th %tile but