Nearly 1 in 5 Georgia youths from ages 10 to 17 are obese, according to a new report. The 18.4 percent figure gives Georgia the eighth-highest rate among states.
The analysis, released this week, also showed racial and ethnic disparities in the obesity figures. In Georgia, the Hispanic youth obesity rate is highest, at 32.8 percent, while black youths were at 23.4 percent and whites at 13.5 percent.
Children who are overweight or who have obesity (a higher level of excess weight) are at greater risk of serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and asthma. Research also shows that if children have obesity at an early age, they are more likely to have it later in life.
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