Shocking Statistics on Obesity in Children

Oct. 30, 2009 - PRLog -- Fast food consumption among children has increased five fold since 1970.  Almost 1/3 of U.S. children (4-19) eat fast food every day.  The American Medical Association reported that physical inactivity and poor diet could soon overtake tobacco as the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.  Unhealthy weight gain results in obesity and illness like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Obesity costs society nearly $100 billion each year and results in 300,000 deaths.  What are we doing to ourselves and our children?

Two girls, 10 year old Katrina and 11 year old Sloane, are fighting back to help other kids get active and eat better.  Their mission is to show kids that getting fit is fun and makes you feel fabulous.  Their idea was to video tape kids cooking, doing sports, learning dance moves or playing tag games outside.  A team of consultants and parents is helping the girls bring their vision to life. Their new website is almost 1000 pages and growing. Viewers can watch short 1-5 minute videos on reading food labels; eating healthy snacks; learning hip hop or how to do the splits.  Body image, helping others and ‘going green’ is all part of the entertainment and education that is available on their free website www.FitForAFeast.com.  

“The people on the bus are round and round.”  Childhood obesity has increased four fold over the last 40 years.  Over 9 million children in the U.S. (6-19) are overweight or obese.  Why?  A sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits.

“There is a lack of information for kids presented in a format they can understand.  Since many children do not have resources available to them, we hope the schools and other youth organizations will use this safe site as a means to counterbalance the fast food commercials and pop machines these kids are surrounded by” explains Donna Wilson, a video team member.  “You don’t have to be great at football or hockey – there is a world of other activities to do to have fun and get fit.”  Viewers agree – with a 25% increase in views each week since their launch 2 months ago and enthusiastic feedback.  

Dangerous fad diets and low self esteem are often products of weight gain.  Kids need to learn to make better food choices and change lifestyle habits.  Kids helping kids is what http://www.fitforafeast.com  is all about.

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