America's Youth Is Really Fat

For anyone questioning the reason for increasing rates of type 2 diabetes, look no further. America’s youth are fat! Really fat! The average weight for a ten year old girl in 1966 was 77.4 lbs and in 2002 it was 88 lbs, an increase of 13.7%. The average weight for a ten year old boy in 1966 was 74.2 lbs while in 2002 it was 85 lbs, an14.5% increase. These rising rates will eventually lead to much more than an increase in type 2 diabetes. Cholesterol and blood pressure rates will increase, while the average life span will begin to decrease if these figures continue to rise. Besides harmful body effects, the increase in obesity amongst children will eventually lead to higher taxes towards Medicare, higher health insurance, and possibly higher taxes used to prevent obesity in children.

USA TODAY, March 17, 2005, pg. A1
Hellmich, Nancy. “Obesity Threatens Life Expectancy.” USA TODAY, March 17, 2005, pg. A1



posted by spolitte
(this was posted by spolitte. I had to delete a comment, but in doing so I had to delete then repost spollite's the original post).