One in five children in the United States is overweight or obese according to WebMD. When a child is overweight or obese, safety becomes an issue because it can seriously affect the child's health condition. Obesity is now a global health problem that has not only caused a lot of sparks and chatter, but has also started to be classified as a serious risk, comparable to diseases. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. Obesity occurs when a child weighs above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States and around the world because extra pounds can lead children to health problems. Overweight is defined as a person who has more body weight from fat, muscle, bone or water than their height and obese is defined as someone who has too much body fat. In the article “Childhood Obesity Facts” the Centers for Disease Control explains that childhood obesity has tripled in the last three decades in the United States and is becoming an epidemic. The American Heart Association reported in the article “Overweight and Obesity” that 23.9 million children between the ages of two and nineteen in the United States are overweight or obese. The effects of obesity in children are immediate health problems as well as long-term health problems. According to the WebMD article “Children's Health” it states that “children have fewer weight-related medical and health problems than adults. However, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults, putting them at risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes later in life." Obesity has negative effects on children, which is a cause for concern, because lon...... half of the document ......iatrics is a credible source because it is an organization made up of 60,000 pediatricians committed to health , safety and well-being of infants, children and adolescents. The article explained how children should not be allowed more than an hour or two of media time. It explains how much time kids should spend on media and this is helpful because it works by limiting screen time. Hellmich, Nanci. “How is severe obesity in children defined?” Ebscohost. NP, September 10, 2013. Web. January 8, 2014. This source is credible because Nanci Hellmich has focused and reported on diet and nutrition in USA Today for the past twenty-five years. The article discusses the severity of childhood obesity and how the heart association is trying to spread the word. This article is helpful because it shows the severity of obesity and explains that more people should be aware of the problem.