Pre-, Peri-, and Postnatal
(pregnancy and birth)
Upper and Lower Airway (breathing)
Obesity
(body weight)
Neurodevelopment
(brain development)
Positive Health
(well-being)Body Weight
ECHO researchers use data from more than 64,000 diverse children and their families across the U.S. to examine the extent to which obesity is associated with factors like neighborhood conditions, chemical exposures, and other influences.
Healthy Weight
Resources
CDC: Childhood Overweight and Obesity
Defines overweight and obesity in children. Provides facts and information on causes and effects of obesity in children.
MedlinePlus: Obesity in Children
Provides an overview of obesity in children with links to resources for identifying, preventing, and treating childhood obesity.
QUESTIONS
For information or to request an interview, contact the ECHO Program Coordinating Center echocc@dm.duke.edu.
If you are not a member of the media, but have a general inquiry, please contact NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.
How ECHO Advances Research on Childhood Obesity
Because ECHO follows children over time, researchers can also explore “natural experiments,” such as how living through the COVID-19 pandemic might affect BMI, or whether certain policies helped reduce childhood obesity.
Nearly 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States have obesity. In children ages 2 to 19 years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines obesity as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile.
Childhood obesity can cause health problems that follow children into adulthood. Obesity-related conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea, and joint problems.
Understanding the factors in children’s environments that may contribute to their weight can help families, doctors, communities, and policymakers take steps to prevent obesity in childhood and enhance long-term health.
What We're Learning
The ECHO Program has published more than 2,200 articles about the results of its research, including many that looked at obesity outcomes.
Here are some research highlights:
Exposure to Flame-Retardant Chemicals During Pregnancy Associated with Differences in Child Growth Patterns
April 8, 2026
Prenatal exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) is associated with altered child growth trajectories, with some chemicals linked to faster increases in BMI and weight, while others were associated with slower growth.
Unusual Early Childhood Weight Patterns Associated with Higher Risk of Future Obesity
May 2025
Children who experience a sharp rise in BMI during early childhood may face a higher risk of obesity by age 9.
ECHO Study Investigates Nutrition During Pregnancy and Infant Growth Outcomes
November 2024
Expectant mothers who ate healthier diets during pregnancy—measured by alignment with dietary guidelines and lower inflammation—were more likely to have babies with healthy birthweights and fewer early growth issues.
Prenatal Exposure to Certain Flame Retardants May be Linked to Childhood Obesity Risk
October 2024
Higher prenatal exposure to certain organophosphate esters (OPEs) was associated with increased obesity risk, while another was linked to a reduced risk.
Food Insecurity in Pregnancy & Early Life May Be Linked to Higher Chance of Obesity in Children & Adolescents
September 2024
Children who faced food insecurity during early childhood—or whose mothers experienced it during pregnancy—had a higher body mass index (BMI) and more than 50% increased chance of developing obesity or severe obesity in childhood and adolescence.