A report published in the journal Obesity recently shows that obesity remains a major threat to American children with rates of severe obesity rising over a 15 year period. The study examined national data from 1999 through 2014 and found that more than 33% of US children aged 2 to 19 were overweight, almost 24% were obese, and 2.4 percent were considered severely obese, up from 2.1% in 2011. That two percent represents nearly 4.5 million children at high risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, more so than milder forms of obesity,

Researchers part of the study believe there is no single solution but changes in school lunches, physical activity, and access to healthier foods creates an environment that supports a healthy weight.

Other authorities disagree with the findings, stating that although there is no doubt that obese children are more likely to become severely obese, other data shows obesity has leveled off, with fewer children becoming obese in the first place.