In the 21st century, childhood obesity is considered one of the most serious public health challenges facing the World Health Organization (WHO , 2013). Figures recorded by the National Childhood Measurement Program for the period 2011/12 showed children aged 10-11, 14.7% were overweight and 19.2% were classified as obese. Statistics from the same report also indicate that boys in the same age group are more likely to be obese, with a figure of 20.7%, compared to 17.7% for girls. These figures are a great source of concern both for these children and, on a broader scale, for society. Obesity is caused by a number of factors that can range from the not-so-obvious social class to the obvious lack of exercise and poor diet. Obese or overweight children are more likely to maintain this status into adulthood and are at increased risk of developing associated health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and even premature mortality. (Public Health England, 2013). Obesity is defined as overconsumption of calories in relation to low physical activity, meaning that the calories consumed are not burned but transformed into fat cells (NHS, 2012). Although hereditary diseases have been linked to childhood obesity, they are rare. However, it has been noted that children whose parents are obese or overweight are more than likely to be obese themselves. The reason, described by Heaton-Harris (2007), is the time it takes to get rid of a bad habit. Unless parents themselves are properly informed about healthy eating, the problem will persist from misinformed childhood to adulthood. There are many other probable causes. Fast food and processed foods are increasingly read... middle of paper ......ity [accessed October 27, 2013]Stamatakis, E., Zaninotto, P., Falaschetti, E., Mindell, J & Head, J. (2009), Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, Time trends in childhood and adolescent obesity in England 1995 to 2007 and prevalence projections to 2015. Stunkard, A. , Eugene, D., Fox, S. and Ross, D., (1972), Journal of the American Medical Association, influence of social class on obesity and thinness in children, http://jama. jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=343791#References [accessed November 6, 2013]The Institute of Heartmath, (2012), Childhood obesity and emotional eating, http://www.heartmath.org/free-services/articles -of-the-heart/childhood-obesity-and-emotional-eating.html [accessed November 5, 2013] World Health Organization, (2013), Childhood overweight and obesity, http://www.who.int/ dietphysicalactivity/childhood/en/ [accessed November 20 2013]