EFN

According to recent studies conducted by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, America’s children are facing an obesity problem of epic proportions. In the past 30 years obesity in children ages 6 - 11 has increased from 6.5% to 19.6%. That’s a more than 300% increase in the number of obese young children in this country. Adolescents, those young people from ages 12 - 19 did not fare any better. According to the study, obesity in this group increased from 5% to 18.1%. Again, that is an increase of more than 300%.

Obesity is a direct result of inactivity. Modern technology has made it possible for children and adolescents to communicate, text, study, listen to music, and play games without ever moving anything more than their thumbs. From sitting behind a desk in school, to sitting in front of the computer at home, to sitting on the bed texting their friends, our children have one main activity, sitting.

Sitting does not burn calories. Unfortunately, while calories are not being burned, caloric intake has not diminished over the past 30 years. Kids eat today just like they did in 1985. The net result are more obese children and adolescents today than ever before in this nation.