Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese (CDC Stats).
During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence of 25% or more; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of 30% or more (CDC).
Obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year. The annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion. Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise (AACAP).
Pretty scary stats...
What do you think?
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What really bugs me is how much money we spend combating alcohol and dug abuse yet they are such a small problem compared to tobacco and obesity.
ReplyDeleteI am stunned by these numbers!
ReplyDeleteI did a huge project on childhood obesity in college and it really opened my eyes to what a huge problem this has become and will continue to be if we don't start doing something about it.
ReplyDeleteWow. This is a real eye-opener and quite disturbing. Thank you for sharing. I am going to re-post. We all need to be thinking about this!!!
ReplyDeletewhile fruit is fast food, too, it blows my mind how backwards the dollar is.
ReplyDeletepeople can't move pass how much junk food you can get versus real food, and that reality is heartbreaking.
thanks for posting this -- those numbers truly are disturbing.