Alarmed by rising rates of obesity among children and teens in much of the world, the international Endocrine Society has called for classifying excess weight among children as an illness that should be covered by health insurance.

“Let’s wake up: This is a disease state,” said Dr. Henry Anhalt, a spokesman for the Endocrine Society. “… It’s causing our kids tremendous medical problems and psychological problems.”

Some 15 percent of U.S. teenagers are obese; the rates have risen dramatically in the past two decades.