Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in US Youth

Abstract Childhood overweight is now a worldwide epidemic. Basically, no age group is left unscathed; currently, 1 in 10 US children under the age of 5 is obese. It has been reported that morbidity associated with childhood obesity is occurring at younger ages and is associated with adult diseases including atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. The situation is very alarming, and appropriate precautionary measures should be undertaken from all spheres.