Childhood Obesity: a Growing Concern

By: Len Saunders, Yahoo! Contributor

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you know that childhood obesity has been a very hot topic over the years. The sad truth, there are many experts who are now claiming that this could be the first generation of children whose life expectancy may be shorter than their parents. Whether fact or fiction, these claims are not going away so quickly, and should send off a “red flag of concern” for any parent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.” Annika Sorenstam, World Golf Hall of Famer and President of ANNIKA Brand of Businesses states sometimes just the simplest changes to a child’s routine can help them lead a healthier lifestyle such as “reducing their amount of sugar, increasing water intake, and reducing an hour a day from computer time.”

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