WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS
"Establishing Healthy Habits at Home"
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Tuesday
Free. Georgia World Congress Center, A411
to register to go www.obesity.org/education/healthy-habits-at-home.htm
(Pre-registering to reserve a space is recommended)
Obesity Facts*
The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 dollars; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than for those of normal weight, studies say.
Non-Hispanic blacks have the highest age-adjusted rates of obesity (49.5 percent) compared with Mexican-Americans (40.4 percent), all Hispanics (39.1 percent) and non-Hispanic whites (34.3 percent)
The 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among U.S. high school students:
- 13 percent were obese
- 5 percent did not eat fruit or drink 100 percent fruit juices during the seven days before the survey.
- 6 percent did not eat vegetables during the seven days before the survey.
- 11 percent drank a can, bottle, or glass of soda or pop three or more times per day during the seven days before the survey.
- 14 percent did not participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on any day during the seven days before the survey.
- 71 percent were physically active at least 60 minutes per day on less than seven days during the seven days before the survey.
- 48 percent did not attend physical education (PE) classes in an average week when they were in school.
- 32 percent watched television three or more hours per day on an average school day.
- 31 percent used computers three or more hours per day on an average school day.
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
About 4,000 doctors, scientists, policymakers and other health experts are working at the Georgia World Congress Center this week, talking and learning about a growing national health crisis: obesity.
The conference includes a public workshop for parents Tuesday about creating healthy habits at home.
This weeklong conference beginning Monday takes place at a time of soaring obesity.
In the past 20 years, rates of obesity in the U.S. have surged as consumption of rich foods has increased and daily activity has dropped. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults (35.7 percent) and about 17 percent (12.5 million) of children and adolescents age 2-19 years are obese.
There are repercussions for every American, as obese people are at significantly higher risks for conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.
In 2012, these states had the highest percentages of obese people.
1. Louisiana 34.7
2. Mississippi 34.6
3. Arkansas 34.5
4. West Virginia 33.8
5. Alabama 33.0
6. Oklahoma 32.2
7. South Carolina 31.6
8. Indiana 31.4
9. Kentucky 31.3
10. Michigan 31.1 (tie)
11. Tennessee 31.1
12. Iowa 30.4
13. Ohio 30.1
14. Kansas 29.9
15. Wisconsin 29.7
16. Missouri 29.6 (tie)
17. North Carolina 29.6
18. Texas 29.2
19. Georgia 29.1 (tie)
20. Pennsylvania 29.1
About the Author
