By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) – Rates of childhood overweight and obesity have not decreased in the U.S. in recent years, and severe obesity is on the rise, especially for minority children, according to a new study. Ten percent of teens now have severe obesity, lead researcher Asheley Skinner of the Duke Clinical Research Institute told Reuters Health by phone. The public health campaigns and White House initiatives targeting childhood obesity in recent years have stressed staying active and making healthy food choices.