17 Percent Of Children And Adolescents Are Obese
According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), 17% (or 12.5 million) of kids and adolescents aged 2 - 19 years
in the United States are now obese.
Obesity Rates Among Kids Ages 2-5 Have Doubled In 30 Years
One In Five Kids Is Overweight By Age 6
Obese kids are more likely to also be obese as adults, which puts them at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and more
adult health problems.
Over Half Of Obese Children First Become Overweight By Age 2
These kids are even more likely to become obese adults.
The Childhood Obesity Rate Has Almost Tripled Since 1980
CDC data shows that there was an increase in the
pervasiveness of obesity in the American population between 1976-1980 and then
again from 1999-2000, the prevalence of obesity increased.
One In Seven Low-Income Preschoolers Is Obese
Obesity in low-income 2- to
4-year-olds rose from 12.4% of the population in 1998 to 14.5%
in 2003 but increased to 14.6% in 2008.
Less Than Half Of Preschoolers Consume Two Daily Servings Of
Fruit
And only 25% of kids in this age group get the recommended three
daily serving of vegetables. One way to make sure your child gets theamount of fruit and vegetables that they need is to serve
them at every meal.
One-Third Of High School Students Get The Recommended Amount
Of Exercise
In 2011, only 29% of high-schoolers in a survey
participated in 60 minutes of physical activity each day, which is the amount
recommended by the CDC. It’s best for kids to get three different types of exercise:
aerobic activity, like walking or running, muscle strengthening activities like
push-ups or pull-ups and bone strengthening activities like jumping rope.
Childhood Obesity Is Linked To A Wide Range Of Health
Problems
High blood pressure, diabetes and other cardiovascular issues
have been previously tied to obesity. But a 2013 study found that obesity also puts kids at risk
for other health issues such as ADHD, allergies and ear infections.
The Food Industry Spends Over $1.6 Billion To Market To Kids
Each Year
This number was
documented by the FTC in 2008. According to the
APA, there are strong associations between the increase in junk food
advertising to kids and the climbing rate of childhood obesity.
Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/obesity-research-genes-fat-willpower_n_6032266.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
