Two out of every five children in the United States (40.7 percent) between the ages of 5 and 13 are currently obese or overweight, according to research by the Datamonitor Group. That number is expected to reach 43.4 percent by 2014.

According to the 2008 National Poll on Children's Health, 30 percent of parents with overweight or obese children do not set limits on TV, video games or computer games for their kids. Parents of overweight or obese children were also more likely to rate neighborhood safety and lack of opportunities for physical activity as top health concerns for kids. Additionally, research shows that children in the Americas between 5 and 13 consume confectionary snacks at more than twice the rate of the overall population (per capita).

Datamonitor is a provider of independent data, analysis and opinion across industries that include consumer markets, healthcare and sourcing. For more information, visit www.datamonitor.com.