Obesity still a No. 1 concern
Despite national and local campaigns, advertising commercials and educational messaging throughout social media, the United States still has a weight problem, especially among its young people.
Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
A new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health survey shows that the issue remains on the forefront. Adults rated childhood obesity as the number one health-related issue in 2014, beating out teen pregnancy, gun-related injuries, stress and alcohol abuse.
“Obesity remains a top child health problem overall, which has been a persistent concern in our annual top 10 polls,” says Dr. Matthew M. Davis, director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, in a news release.
Each year, the poll takes the pulse of U.S. adults about child health issues as a way to help inform program priorities in medicine and public health. The eighth annual survey measures current public opinions, perceptions and priorities regarding major health care issues and trends for U.S. children and people in their communities. The organization is part of the University of Michigan Health System Division of General Pediatrics.
Nationwide, 55 percent of those surveyed listed child obesity as their primary issue, followed by bullying, drug abuse and smoking. For the local poll, 29 percent named childhood obesity number one, followed by smoking, drug abuse and bullying.
Survey participants are asked to weigh in on more than two dozen categories from depression and drug abuse to food allergies and sexting. Obesity has remained in the top three for every year of the survey. Officials hope that polls like these keep the conversation going. The last thing they want is for people to consider this a dead-end issue with no chance of breakthrough.
“Childhood obesity is a serious issue. People don’t seem to understand how it can lead to health problems later on in life,” says Dr. Julie Taylor, family medicine physician at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago. “It’s important to make sure that you start good habits young so you can continue them along the way.”
This year as part of the poll, other child health concerns rated as ‘big problems’ for children and teens across the U.S. included: stress, unsafe neighborhoods, suicide, hunger, motor vehicle accidents, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and Attention Deficit Disorder.
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health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
Stress as the leading concern for children and teens across the U.S. is so mystifying to me. If stress is characterized by feeling overwhelmed, wouldn’t a parent investing more time into providing a stronger support system for their children relieve a good amount of that tension?
I’m reading, “Why We Get Fat, and What To Do About It” by Gary Taubes. It’s one of the books recommended by Health e You as part of our requirements, have to take a quiz when I’m finished reading. It’s a mind blower, check it out. If this guy is right, there is no way we or our children will ever be lean and healthy eating the way the USDA recommends!
Yes, I am familiar with the first book you are talking about. And you are right. The more you read, the more worried you get for our society.