This is a major concern because obesity is the cause of many major health concerns later in life. This does not only affect the person themselves, but those who love them and society in general as this causes health insurance to rise and eventually decreases the number of people who are fit to work, thus putting a strain on the economy. This article will present the results of research on obesity, and childhood obesity facts and obesity statistics.
Childhood Obesity Statistics
In 2004, there was a research report written about a study that lasted from 1999 to 2002 entitled "Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents: United States" conducted by the CDC. According to that report "16 % children (over 9 million) 6-19 year olds are overweight or obese" this is three times what it was in 1980. In addition, this report brings out the fact that also during this same time period an additional 15% were "at risk of becoming overweight".
Not only has this number tripled, but in the past three decades (according to this same study) obesity has "more than doubled" in both children and adolescents from ages 2-5 and also ages 12-19 while more than tripling in children between the ages of 6-11.
Childhood obesity facts
Economic Costs - In the twenty years from 1979-1991 the hospital costs for children and youth have risen from 35 million in 1979-1981 to 127 million from 1997-1991 (Preventing childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance, 2005, Institute of Medicine).
Health Costs - Our children are paying dearly and at their young age are not realizing this. Type 2 Diabetes has risen from 4% new cases seen in the pre-1990's to between 8-45% during the 1990's. In addition the incidence of a single risk factor for heart disease has also risen to nearly 60% of children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old who are obese. Not only that, but those with at least 2 risk factors has also risen to 25%. Some of these risk factors are those that generally we associate with the elderly, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides. These children are having diseases at 5 and 10 years old that in the past took decades to get.
However, this problem is not only an "American" problem where we need to look shamefacedly at the other nations of the world when this subject is brought up. Other nation’s rates of obesity have also risen and I think it safe to assume that some of those statistics also represent obesity in children.
Some of the other nations that have a higher rate of obesity and should also be staring at their stomach’s instead of their toes are Samoa has the highest worldwide with a 74% of obesity compared to that of America’s 34% and China’s 2%. These particular statistics represent the high, mid-range and the low rate of obesity per nation. These statistics come from International Obesity Task Force, WHO figures 2002.
Why are these children suffering as if they have been eating and assaulting their bodies for decades when in reality they have been alive for only 5 or 10 years? The first, of two main causes, is the fast food that is prevalent, not only in America, but in most other nation. Having lived in South Korea for most of the 90's myself I know that Seoul and most other cities there not only have American fast food restaurants, such as Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and other down home American favorites, but also have their own fast food equivalents as well.
Not only is it what we have been feeding our kids and what they have demanded at times, but it is also the lack of exercise, not only in the schools, but also after school at home. You know the scenario, you’re sitting with your friend when her kids come home and they begin to fight over it. They are yelling and screaming, demanding that it is their turn to use whatever mechanical device may have just rolled off the shelves at the nearest Wal-mart ® or other store. These devices range from DVD players, to video games, to the latest video or other fantastic toy that has become number one on the ratings list.
We ourselves are at fault for what is happening to our children. Some of them are too young to even know better, so it is up to us to watch what our children are eating and how much exercise they are getting.