Childhood Obesity – Causes and Prevention
Childhood obesity statistics, not only in the US but throughout the western world, are startling. All western countries have seen a dramatic increase in their childhood obesity statistics. In the USA, the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 – 11 years increased from 6.5% – 19.6% from 1980 to the present. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 – 19 years increased from 5.0% – 18.1%.1.
The cause of the obesity is the same as with adults. Too many calories are being consumed and not enough calories being expended through exercise. So what is causing this dramatic change over the last 30 years? In my opinion, the following are the reasons that childhood obesity statistics have changed so dramatically over the last 30 years. (more…)