|
|
| Kids in the Kitchen |
|
- Nearly half of the children in North and South America will be overweight by 2010, up from what recent studies say is currently about one-third of the children in North and South America. (International Journal of Pediatric Obesity)
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that nearly one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, increasing the chances they will develop health problems such as Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Children who are overwhight are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem. (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
- Since the early 1970s, the number of overweight children ages 2-5 and 12-19 has doubled and the number of overweight children ages 6-11 has tripled. Today, more than 16% of young people ages 6-19 are overweight. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
- There is a strong likelihood that being overweight as a child will lead to being overweight as an adult - an almost 80% chance that overweight adolescents will be overweight as adults. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Between 1970 and 1995, food purchased away from home went from 25% to 45%. Between the late 1970s and the mid 1990s, the number of calories in food prepared away from home rose from 18% to 34%. Away from home foods are proven to be higher in fat and lower in fiber and calcium than foods prepared at home. (U.S Department of Health and Human Services)
- Obesity-associated annual hospital costs for children and youth more than tripled over two decades, rising from $35 million in 1979-1981 to $127 million in 1997-1999. (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies)
- Only 8% of elementary schools, 6.4% of middle schools and 5.8% of high schools provide physical activity education. (Healthy Kids Challenge)
- The percentage of overweight African American, Hispanic and Native American children is about 20%. (The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports)
- There are predictions that the average life expectancy of Americans could decrease 2-5 years in the coming decades as a result of the effects of obesity. (The New England Journal of Medicine)
- Obesity is second only to tobacco use as a threat to public health. (Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, July 2005)
|
|
|
