More children are overweight, putting them at risk for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. A new look at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows the rate of severe childhood obesity tripled in the past 25 years.

A body mass index above the 99Th percentile qualifies a child as "severely obese." Researchers found a third of children who met the criteria also had metabolic syndrome- which includes high blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin levels.

The numbers in North Carolina are startling. One in three children in North Carolina are obese. That's according to a new study by the Trust for America's Health and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Researchers ranked North Carolina 14Th for childhood obesity rates.

The latest research showed increases in severe obesity were highest among blacks and Mexican-Americans and among those below the poverty level. Studies show people below the poverty line or with low income are more likely to purchase inexpensive, processed foods, which contribute to weight gain.