Childhood Obesity

By April Speck, Coordinator,

Clinton County Healthy Hometown Coalition

Facts:

• Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

• In 2010, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.

Health Effects of Childhood Obesity

Immediate Effects

• Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

• Obese adolescents are more likely to have pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

Long-term health effects:

• Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults11-14 and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. One study showed that children who became obese as early as age two were more likely to be obese as adults.

• Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Prevention

• Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases.

Upcoming Healthy Hometown Coalition Events:

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 3rd for Healthy Hometown’s Family Fun Run/Walk 5K and Health Fair.

Healthy Hometown is always seeking youth volunteers to go walk at AES, with elementary students between 7:20-7:45 am.

We are also seeking more youth volunteers to go to ECC every Tuesday during 2nd period intervention to facilitate Take 10!. Students who walk at AES or go to ECC will get volunteer hours to count on college applications.

Healthy Hometown Coalition is working toward a “healthy” Clinton County.