Obesity Threatened Health of American Children

The health of American children is being threatened by obesity, which is so common that its effects have wiped out many other health gains, according to a report released on Wednesday.

The health of American children is being threatened by obesity, which is so common that its effects have wiped out many other health gains, according to a report released on Wednesday. The report, called the Child Well-Being Index, found that obesity is the single most widespread health problem facing children. When being overweight is included in a statistical profile of how children are faring, health well-being falls nearly 15 percent below 1975 levels. The report, released by the non-profit philanthropic Foundation for Child Development, finds that U.S. children less likely to be a victim of an accident and are more connected with their communities than they were in 1975. But it finds that more children are overweight, poor and more likely to attempt suicide than 30 years ago. “Kids are doing better, but they are not doing nearly as well as they should be given this country’s advances in education, health, and social programs,” said Kenneth Land, a Duke University sociologist and demographer who developed the index. At least 15 percent of U.S. children are overweight, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the numbers steeply increase each year. “Without the obesity indication in the health domain index, we show about a 15 percent improvement compared to 1975,” Land said in a telephone interview. “Whereas with the obesity trend in, we show a deterioration of about 15 percent.” Land said the study does not break down specific problems caused by obesity, but assumes that obesity is a bad thing. Many studies have shown that overweight children grow up to be overweight adults and much more at risk of heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Studies are also starting to show that type 2 or adult onset diabetes is affecting younger and younger children. An estimated 60 percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, and obesity is close to overtaking tobacco use as the No. 1 cause of death, according to the CDC. “The overall conclusion from the study is that child well-being in the United States showed substantial improvement, especially for the seven years from 1994 to 2000,” Land said. But the improvements are slowing, he added. For the report, Land’s group looked at hundreds of studies on children and youth from 1 to 19 years old. It took into account health; wealth; safety; educational achievement; community connections including school and work; family and friends and emotional and spiritual well-being. “We’re pleased to see that children’s lives have improved since 1975, but given America’s resources and knowledge, children can and should be doing much better,” said Ruby Takanishi, president of the Foundation for Child Development. (Source: Reuters Health: Maggie Fox: Medline Plus: March 2004)