America's youth obesity epidemic: Shifts in physical activity and nutrition behaviors, 1960--2004

From the late 1970's to the present, youth obesity rates in the United States have increased dramatically, escalating into a costly crisis of epidemic proportions. Today, 15% of youth ages 6 to 19 are overweight, and another 15% are at risk for becoming overweight. The obesity epidemic has been driven by changes in physical activity and nutrition behaviors over the past four decades. Underlying these two factors is a host of complex and often inter-related social, behavioral, environmental, and economic forces. These forces persist in several environments of a child's life---the home, school, community, and wider social context. Drawing upon findings from a literature search and personal interviews with subject-matter experts, this study provides a historical overview of behavioral factors that may have contributed to the rise in child and adolescent obesity, and demonstrates the necessity for multi-dimensional and collaborative strategies to combat the America's youth obesity epidemic.