Growing a Healthy Community
Youth Fighting Fat: Growing a Healthy Community
Part 1
by Talia Whyte
Obesity has become a very big issue of concern nationwide in recent months. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, well over half of Americans are either considered overweight or obese. The problem came to a crossroads last year when the CDC released a report, showing that Americans spend approximately $147 billion on obesity related health care costs.
Obesity is especially a problem among America’s youth. According to a book I read recently on childhood obesity called Super Sized Kids, only four percent of American children were considered obese in 1960. Today that number has skyrocketed to 15 percent and is almost triple that number in certain minority groups. This is the first generation of youth in American history whose life expectancy may actually decrease.
View the video here