What is the greatest risk factor for childhood obesity?

The greatest risk factor for childhood obesity is poverty. Children from low-income families often face multiple challenges that contribute significantly to obesity. Limited financial resources can restrict access to healthy food options, leading families to rely on cheaper, calorie-dense, and nutrient-poor foods. Additionally, financial constraints might reduce opportunities for physical activity, such as sports or recreational programs, due to the costs associated with them.

Furthermore, children in poverty might live in environments where access to safe spaces for outdoor play or healthy grocery stores is lacking, often termed "food deserts." These environmental and socioeconomic factors create a higher likelihood of childhood obesity when compared to other options, such as cognitive stimulation, parental divorce, or parental education, which, while they have their own impacts on a child's overall well-being, do not have as direct a connection to obesity rates as poverty does.