have more of a tendency toward weight gain, the reality is that healthy food is expensive and junk food is cheap. There are clearly established links between overweight, obesity and food which is high in fat or sugar or is very heavily processed. In addition, junk fooWe can no longer avoid childhood obesity facts, as the situation amongst children and young people has reached critical levels.

Over 9 million children over the age of six are now classified as obese in the United States, which is around three times the rate in that age range recorded in the 80s.

Younger children are not immune – the obesity rate amongst this group has more than doubled in the last 30 years.

Teenagers are also affected, with an estimated 14% of American adolescents being overweight.

This is not just an American phenomenon - a similar pattern is emerging in all of the developed and developing nations of the world.

Obesity can run in families, but this isn’t necessarily genetic and can be the result of adopting similar eating patterns and lack of exercise.

The percentage of obese young people is higher in groups which fall at the lower end of the socio-economic scale, indicating a clear link between obesity and poverty. Although this might initially seem strange, as one would expect the richer social groups to have more of a tendency toward weight gain, the reality is that healthy food is expensive and junk food is cheap. There are clearly established links between overweight, obesity and food which is high in fat or sugar or is very heavily processed. In addition, junk food

hat age range recorded in the 80s.

Younger children are not immune – the obesity rate amongst this group has more than doubled in the last 30 years.

Teenagers are also affected, with an estimated 14% of American adolescents being overweight.

This is not just an American phenomenon - a similar pattern is emerging in all of the developed and developing nations of the world.

Obesity can run in families, but this isn’t necessarily genetic and can be the result of adopting similar eating patterns and lack of exercise.

The percentage of obese young people is higher in groups which fall at the lower end of the socio-economic scale, indicating a clear link between obesity and poverty. Although this might initially seem strange, as one would expect the richer social groups to have more of a tendency toward weight gain, the reality is that healthy food is expensive and junk food is cheap. There are clearly established links between overweight, obesity and food which is high in fat or sugar or is very heavily processed. In addition, junk foo

ot just an American phenomenon - a similar pattern is emerging in all of the developed and developing nations of the world.

Obesity can run in families, but this isn’t necessarily genetic and can be the result of adopting similar eating patterns and lack of exercise.

The percentage of obese young people is higher in groups which fall at the lower end of the socio-economic scale, indicating a clear link between obesity and poverty. Although this might initially seem strange, as one would expect the richer social groups to have more of a tendency toward weight gain, the reality is that healthy food is expensive and junk food is cheap. There are clearly established links between overweight, obesity and food which is high in fat or sugar or is very heavily processed. In addition, junk foo

ise.

The percentage of obese young people is higher in groups which fall at the lower end of the socio-economic scale, indicating a clear link between obesity and poverty. Although this might initially seem strange, as one would expect the richer social groups to have more of a tendency toward weight gain, the reality is that healthy food is expensive and junk food is cheap. There are clearly established links between overweight, obesity and food which is high in fat or sugar or is very heavily processed. In addition, junk foo

have more of a tendency toward weight gain, the reality is that healthy food is expensive and junk food is cheap. There are clearly established links between overweight, obesity and food which is high in fat or sugar or is very heavily processed. In addition, junk food is advertised on TV with alarming frequency and available on every street corner.

Because of time pressures, fewer parents cook for their children. In fact, many of them don’t know how to. So fast food takeaways and ready-made meals become the norm.

If childhood obesity facts are ignored, the problem will continue to accelerate, with devastating consequences for individuals and the country as a whole.

© Waller Jamison 2007