WHY YOU SHOULD CARE

The Price of Being Unhealthy is High for Everyone

The economic costs attributed to overweight and obesity was an estimated $117 Billion in 2000.

• $61 billion for direct medical costs
• $56 billion for indirect costs (absenteeism and lost productivity)

A CDC Diabetes Prevention Study showed that a 10% weight loss could reduce an overweight adult’s yearly medical costs by $2,200 to $5,300.

9 million children between 6 and 19 are considered overweight. 80% will likely become obese adults.

Among children and adolescents, annual hospital costs attributed to overweight and obesity more than tripled over the past two decades from $35 million in 1979-81 to $127 million in 1997-99.
Obesity is related to:

• 2/3 of all diabetes
• 2/3 of all heart disease
• 20% of cancer in women
• 15% of cancer in men
• Many more diseases

Overweight Has Important Health Consequences in Children

Nearly 30% of Indiana children 6-19 are overweight or obese.

Children born in 2000 will live sicker and die younger unless we reverse the trend of increasing overweight and obesity among children.

Obesity and obesity-related diseases are more common among the, Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans.

More and more children are getting adult diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Risk factors for heart disease:

• 60% of 5-10-year olds already have at least one
• 25% have two or more

Greatly increased childhood onset of Type 2 diabetes

• Face future risk of serious complications: Kidney disease, blindness, amputations

As adults, we have a responsibility to help our children learn how to make good choices about the food they eat and being active so they can live a healthy life