Childhood Obesity

Obesity in America-An Epidemic in the Making

by Leia Vincent 

"Lose weight without exercise and still eat the food you love."  This is the slogan from a radio advertisement for one of the many weight loss supplements on the market today.  These pills promise the slim body you want without having to work or sacrifice for it.  And many Americans will pay that price.  The consumer market for dieting products has more than doubled in the last 30 years.  According to the National Center for Health Statistics in 2006, among Americans age 20 and older, 140 million people-72 million men and 68 million women-are overweight or obese.  These numbers represent increased health risks for Americans of all ages.
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Useful links to statistics and resources that will help you and your community fight obesity:

Children's Activity Books:   

http://www.amaalliance.org/site/epage/40309_625.htm

AMA Healthy Living Cookbooks

http://www.amaalliance.org/site/epage/41558_625.htm

USDA My Food Pyramid

National Institute of Health (NIH)

Medline Plus (A service from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and NIH)

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

American Dietetic Association

U.S. Office of the Surgeon General