This title includes a number of Open Access chapters.The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has increased worldwide in recent decades. Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications and an increased risk of premature illness and death later in life. This book presents childhood obesity trends across Common terms and phrases: adiponectin adiposity adolescents adulthood adults analysis assessed associated behavior beverages birth BMI–z–score body mass index body weight bone boys cardiovascular child childhood obesity children and adolescents Circulation cohort correlation cross–sectional dietary disease effect endothelial dysfunction endothelial function endothelial progenitor cells environment environmental fat mass fitness and overweight fruit drinks gender gene genetic genome–wide girls health outcomes hypertension included increased influence insulin resistance intake intentionally left blank intervention leptin levels loci long–term longitudinal studies markers measured Medical Medicine metabolic metabolic syndrome milk NHANES nitric oxide synthase Nutrition obese children obstructive sleep apnea overweight overweight and obesity overweight children parents patients Pediatrics physical activity physical fitness population predictive predictors prevalence prevention reported Research risk factors sample self–reported significant soft drinks tion treatment Twin Study twins type 2 diabetes underweight variables variation vascular weight gain weight loss zygosity