For the first time in a very long time, our children's generation is expected to live a shorter life span than we will. That's an amazing statistic with all the advancements in medicine, nutrition, fitness and overall wellness.

For the first time in a very long time, our children’s generation is expected to live a shorter life span than we will.  That’s an amazing statistic with all the advancements in medicine, nutrition, fitness and overall wellness.  What is causing childhood obesity and how can we educate ourselves on childhood obesity facts?  There needs to be education, a change in how we perceive nutrition and its importance in developing young bodies.  Parents need help from their children’s pediatrician who should be doing nutritional consulting, testing of BMI (body mass index) and intervention.  Parents should also read childhood obesity articles and learn about the FDA food pyramid.

By the year 2057 it is estimated that obesity will shorten the average life span of 77.6 years by at least two to five years. In addition, deaths from obesity will surpass deaths from all types of cancer combined. This would reverse the mostly steady increase in American life expectancy that has occurred in the past two centuries and would have tremendous social and economic consequences. Some say it could inadvertently help save the problem ridden Social Security system.

Without serious intervention, today’s youth will be the first generation to have shorter and less healthy lives than their parents. Considering that 15% of children are currently obese, the problem is here and must be dealt with immediately. There are of course, people who disagree with the statistics and say that medical advances will continue to extend life expectancy.  How counterproductive and dim a projection to think we should extend an unwell life versus being proactive and live a life of health. The truth of the matter is the US’ current life expectancy already trails more than 20 other developed countries.

 
Dr. David Ludwig of Children's Hospital Boston cited sobering obesity statistics:
• Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese; one-third of adults qualify as obese.
• Up to 30 percent of U.S. children are overweight, and childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 25 years.
• Childhood diabetes has increased 10-fold in the past 20 years.

"It's one thing for an adult of 45 or 55 to develop type 2 diabetes and then experience the life-threatening complications of that -- kidney failure, heart attack, stroke -- in their late 50s or 60s. But for a 4-year-old or 6-year-old who's obese to develop Type 2 diabetes at 14 or 16" raises the possibility of devastating complications before reaching age 30, Ludwig said. "It's really a staggering prospect."

While national attention is starting to focus on what causes obesity, including the tremendous amount of fast-food meals each week, sodas in schools and reductions in the amount of hours dedicated to physical education classes, "what we presently lack is a clear, comprehensive national vision for addressing the obesity epidemic," Ludwig said. Pediatrics journal guidelines state doctors need to check body mass index or BMI as well as perform routine cholesterol screening for children and provide weight related guidance. Parents need to ensure children are getting the needed exercise daily which is a minimum of one hour a day.  We need to return to the ritual of daily family meals, daily breakfasts, and open conversations about health and nutrition. 

By Christina Leon, Staff Writer