Obesity in children

Key facts Childhood obesity is when a child has too much body fat for their age. Being overweight and living with obesity are common in Australia, affecting 1 in 4 Australian children. Children living with obesity generally have a body mass index (BMI) at the 95th percentile or higher for their age group. Helping a child or teenager maintain a healthy weight means they’re less likely to struggle with weight problems as adults. You can help manage obesity in children by modelling healthy eating habits with them, encouraging lots of physical activity and limiting screen time. What is obesity in