Child Obesity in New Jersey. Obesity means having too much body fat. It is a long lasting or chronic disease according to WHO and CDC, due to complications such as heart disease, diabetes, cancers. and other health conditions.

Approximately 2.1 million adults in New Jersey, or 29% of the population, are obese as of 2025. Data from the New Jersey Department of Health for 2023 showed an age-adjusted prevalence of 29.7%. Recent reports (late 2024/mid-2025) show about 1 in 6 NJ kids (ages 6-17 years old) are obese.

But you may wonder, is obesity a disease or disability? Why is it dangerous? How to test or check if you are obese? There are many questions to answer and let us find it out.

The word obesity comes from the Latin obesitas, meaning “fatness,” itself derived from obesus (“fat, stout”) and edere (“to eat”), essentially meaning “having eaten oneself fat” or “devoured,” first appearing in English around the 1610s from Middle French. – ETYMONLINE.

Child Obesity in New Jersey

So first and foremost, should New Jersey be bothered about obesity? Are there any dangers when your children, teens, and adult are obese? What are the signs and symptoms of obesity and how can it be controlled or cured?

Obesity symptoms

Excess fat, breathing issues, pain, skin problems, fatigue, difficulty with movement, sleep disorders, mental health, persistent headaches, high blood pressure, extreme thirst, frequent urination, poor growth compared to peers, breathing that stops/starts during sleep, are some of the signs or symptoms of obesity.

Only a doctor can diagnose and conclude about the obesity symptoms.

There are many factors that cause obesity. More often than not it is by genetics. Harvard studied obesity causes.

The strength of the genetic influence on weight disorders varies quite a bit from person to person. Research suggests that for some people, genes account for just 25% of the predisposition to be overweight, while for others the genetic influence is as high as 70% to 80%. Having a rough idea of how large a role genes play in your weight may be helpful in terms of treating your weight problems.

Sometimes, it is due to preexisting conditions.

Obesity tests near me

Body Mass Index, waist circumference, health history, physical exam, body composition tests, blood tests, and maybe sports physicals can help you find out if you are obese or not.

For your convenience, go to any urgent care near you to find out if your children, teens, and adults have obesity. Some tests, measurements, and physical assessments are needed to see the real condition of your health – specially your weight.

TIPS AND WARNINGS:

• Only your doctor can say if you are obese or not. Never assume that you are obese.
• Obesity is connected to serious health conditions, so it is urgent to get consultations and exams.
• Eat healthy foods and balanced diet. STOP eating junk foods.
• Obesity is not curable but treatable or manageable.
• Exercise or do some physical activities.
• Prevention is better than cure.
• Ask your doctor on how to manage your weight. lifestyle modifications, medications, weight-loss surgery, therapy, and other recommended treatments may be done to control your obesity.
• Again, only your doctor can tell you what to do for best weight loss management.
• Metabolic & cardiovascular diseases, cancers, digestive & liver issues, respiratory problems, musculoskeletal & other conditions are linked or complicated with obesity. So, a doctors’ checkup is a must!