This article is also available in Spanish: El impacto de la obesidad infantil en la salud de los huesos, las articulaciones y los músculos (The Impact of Childhood Obesity on Bone, Joint, and Muscle Health).
Over the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children, adolescents and adults diagnosed as overweight or obese in the United States. Today, approximately 32% of American children and adolescents, ages 2 to 19, are considered overweight or obese.