An Obesity Epidemic

Dr. Greene’s take on the obesity epidemic…

You’ve probably already heard that we are raising the most overweight, out-of-shape generation of children in history. In October 2004, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the latest round of figures. What is amazing is that the problem isn’t staying the same, but keeps increasing, year after year. There was no significant increase between 1960 and 1980, but since 1980, the percent of overweight children has been rising dangerously. When comparing children ages 6 to 19 years, the percentage of overweight children has tripled since 1980.

Obesity among children is literally an epidemic. Unless we get kids moving and teach them to enjoy healthy foods, the outlook for their long-term health is bleak. But we can change things. Tobacco use was once thought to be inevitable; now its use has fallen by half. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for all of us, children and adults, if weight problems fell by half over the next several years?