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Alarming Statistics
About 12 million (17 %) U.S.
youth ages 2-19 are overweight,
and an additional 12 million are at risk of being overweight.
Children Are Less Active
Couch Potato Lifestyle: Almost one in four children do not
participate in any free-time physical activity.
Less Physical Education: 92% of elementary schools dont
have daily physical education classes year round.
Barely a quarter of high school students take daily physical
education classes.
Disappearing Recess: Nearly one-third of elementary schools
do not schedule recess on a regular basis. Some schools lack the
space to play while others feel that recess is a waste of time.
Increasing Screen-Time: A typical American youth spends
approximately four to five hours a day watching TV, using the
computer or playing video games.
Getting to School: 85% of children travel to school by car
or bus only 13% of children walk or bike to school.
Less Physical Activity: African-American and Hispanic
children are less likely to play sports, either in school or after
school.
Obese &
Overweight Children Face Serious Health Problems
Diabetes on the Rise: Childhood obesity is linked to a
dramatic rise in the number of children suffering from Type II
diabetes, what was previously thought to be an adults-only disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 3
children born today will get Type II diabetes.
Increased Risk of Heart Failure: Being overweight or out of
shape makes the heart work harder. Overweight
children are 70% more likely than healthy weight children to grow up
to be overweight adults and more likely to develop heart problems.
Digestive Problems: 1 in 4 overweight or obese children may
have digestive troubles such as constipation.
Higher Risk of Asthma: There may be a link between the rise
in childhood obesity and the rise in childhood asthma. Extra weight
can make it harder to breathe and can inflame the respiratory tract.
Children with serious asthma are more likely to be overweight.
Behavioral Problems: Overweight and obese children often
suffer from serious emotional and behavioral problems. Severely
obese children may have a similar health-related quality of life as
children who have been diagnosed with cancer.
For these and additional facts, please visit the Alliance Web site
at
www.HealthierGeneration.org/Facts
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