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 Childhood
Obesity
Currently one-third of
American children are overweight or obese, and because of it, for the first
time ever, the current generation of children is expected to die younger
than their parents. 15% of American teens are obese, an increase of
300% from the 1960s. Children are getting fatter at an alarming rate.
In the
vast majority of cases, overweight and obese children are not that way
because of muscle mass. Overweight and obese children just have too
much body fat! Along with earlier risk of heart failure, arthritis,
and many other diseases, too much body fat is the number one preventable
cause of diabetes. Type II diabetes,
traditionally known as a disease that afflicted older overweight and
inactive adults, is now being seen in children as young as 5.
The estimated lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes is 35 percent for all
children born in America today, 50 percent for Hispanic and African American
children. A recent study
showed that many adolescents who develop type 2 diabetes require amputation
and kidney dialysis before their 30th birthday. Many diabetics go
blind from the disease. With an estimated lifetime medical cost
exceeding $100,000 for anyone diagnosed with diabetes, we could be looking
at an major epidemic that could bankrupt of our Medicare system.
The health effects of obesity are well known: heart disease, diabetes, stroke
and other chronic problems that cause premature death. The earlier you catch
an excess body fat problem, the easier it will be for your child to change
and the less damage the excess fat will cause on his or her body. The
time for your child to lose body fat is RIGHT NOW!
Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator for children: Click
here to test your Childs BMI
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Obesity
in the U.S.
Women
and Fat Loss
Childhood
