Health and Nutrition

For the first time ever, our kids are not expected to live as long as our parents’ generation did do to the epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

Scary Statistics

  • “Three out of every four California students are unfit and more than a quarter are overweight. The number of overweight children in the United States has tripled over the last three decades, and children who are overweight are at risk for developing chronic health problems later in life”. CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Jack 0’Connell
  • 42% of all children born after 2000 on average will develop type II diabetes
  • 50% of obese kids over 6 stay obese.
  • 70-80% of obese adolescents become obese adults.
  • “There is nothing more important than the health of our children and the health of the generation to come.”

Price of Diabetes:

  • Diabetes costs over $132 billion annually in direct medical costs (the annual budget of the State of Florida is $50 billion!)

Price of Obesity:

  • In 2000, the total national direct and indirect costs of obesity (including medical expenses and lost productivity) have been estimated at $117B.
  • Type 2 Diabetes, which was found strictly among adults, has spread to the youth population and is now approximately 50% of the new type 2 Diabetes cases.
  • These are troubling statistics due to the fact that diabetes related health problems are very serious; they range from high blood pressure, blindness, heart disease, and ultimately death.
  • These overweight children face a likelihood of developing type 2 Diabetes, gallstones, high blood pressure as well low self-esteem and depression and are more likely to be obese as adults putting them at risk for heart disease, cancer and stroke later in life.

The Frightening Future

  • Unhealthy weight is responsible for
  • 54% of heart disease
  • 37% of cancers
  • It causes sleep apnea, hypertension, Type-2 diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.
  • Depression, hopelessness and despair.

The Questionable Future

  • A severely obese 20-year old white man can lose 13 years of life. A similar black man can lose 20 years.
  • Obese adults at age 40 lose 6-7 years.
  • Obesity in adulthood shortens life as much as smoking does.

Opportunity

  • You have a wonderful opportunity to make a positive impact on the parents and children of
    Orange County.

Let’s go play!