Childhood obesity is now a nationwide epidemic. With the advent of the internet, social networking sites, video games and text messaging, kids have more reason than ever to stay inside and sedentary. Children, tweens and teens are more at risk than ever to develop life threatening diseases and conditions as a result of how they eat and what they do (or, more accurately, no longer do).
According to the CDC:
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Since the mid-seventies, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has
increased sharply for both adults and children. Data from two NHANES
surveys show that among adults aged 20–74 years the prevalence of
obesity increased from 15.0% (in the 1976–1980 survey) to 32.9% (in the
2003–2004 survey).
The two surveys also show increases in overweight among children and
teens. For children aged 2–5 years, the prevalence of overweight
increased from 5.0% to 13.9%; for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence
increased from 6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence
increased from 5.0% to 17.4%.
These increasing rates raise concern because of their implications for
Americans’ health. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many
diseases and health conditions, including the following:
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of
triglycerides)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
Although one of the national health objectives for the year 2010 is to
reduce the prevalence of obesity among adults to less than 15%, current
data indicate that the situation is worsening rather than improving.
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InterAction Labs is working to reverse the current obesity trend, especially among the younger age groups, by offering fitness solutions that combine the popularity and fun of video and computer games with the life saving benefits of real exercise.