Childhood obesity is a serious global health threat due to a
marked increase in its prevalence. For children 6-11 years, the
rate of obesity has quadrupled in the past 3 decades1 with an
estimated 30% of children being overweight (OW) or at risk of
being OW.2 Childhood obesity is strongly predictive of obesity
in adulthood,3 which is associated with astounding health care
costs.4 The health consequences of childhood obesity can be
serious and include pulmonary, orthopedic, gastroenterologic,
neurologic, and endocrine problems.