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Child Obesity Drags Down Overall Gains |
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Written by Craig - GKA Staff
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Tuesday, 26 April 2005 |
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Child obesity has more than tripled in three decades and the increased health risk associated with being fat has wiped out progress in other areas.
 U.S. children are having far fewer babies, smoking less and using fewer illegal drugs. The report's overall measurement, called the Child Well-Being Index, has improved 4.5 percent since 1995.
But an estimated 15 percent of U.S. children are overweight or obese, and studies show they are developing type-2 diabetes, high blood cholesterol and even high blood pressure at rates that greatly raise their heart disease risk.
Rising obesity has "completely obscured all progress made in the health category, dragging it 17 percent below 1975 levels," the foundation said in a statement.
The index is based on various reports on health, income, educational status, safety issues, community involvement and emotional and spiritual well-being.
It is important that we stop the obesity epidemic before it reaches massive proportions. GetKidsActive.com aims to get our children physically active in an increasingly inactive world. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
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