The American Medical Association has recognized obesity as a disease (Pollack). Overweight is defined as excess weight from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as excess body fat (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Similar to a disease, childhood obesity has causes and effects, treatments and prevention measures, as well as risk factors and prevalence. Parents reported that they believed their children's parents were responsible for healthy eating habits, or lack thereof (Costley and Leggett 3). "). Taking in too many calories comes either from choosing poor quality foods, such as high-calorie fast foods, or from eating too much “healthy food.” Calories can be released from the body through physical activity, heat generated by food and our internal clock. Being active will require around 30% of calories ingested; however, this percentage varies depending on how active or sedentary a person is. “This step is important for balancing caloric intake and consumption” (Berg 37). When we eat and after eating, our body creates heat. “This heat helps muscles move food through the digestive tract and helps specialized cells secrete juices to digest, absorb and metabolize food. This process is called thermogenesis, which burns about 10% of calories ingested. (Berg 36). “Our internal clock controls heart rate, cell repair, elimination, infection fighting, blood circulation, respiration, heat generation, digestion, production and transport of chemical compounds used in the body and sending messages to and from the middle of paper...... Obesity." MedicineNet. Np, nd Web. April 14, 2014. Costley, Kevin C. and Timothy Leggett. “Childhood obesity: a serious problem.” www.eric.ed.gov . Np, April 1, 2010. Web. Daniels, Stephen R. “The Consequences of Childhood Overweight and Obesity.” Www.eric.ed.gov, 2006. Web. and Cynthia Thomas. Reduce ! : Why childhood obesity is not just a question of weight. Chicago, IL: Hilton Pub., 2008. Print.Pollack, Andrew “AMA Recognizes Obesity as a Disease.” Times, June 18, 2013. Web April 14.. 2014. .