Childhood Obesity: The Epidemic Sweeping Our Nation

The United States has always been the world leader in so many areas, economy, technology, health and medicine yet for some reason we can't get our obesity problem under control. It isn't just adults that are feeling the extra pounds children are at risk even more. The number of overweight children 6-11 years of age has doubled in the past 20 years. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) If we continue at this pace cutting recess at schools cutting gym at schools these numbers will continue to worsen.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 6 states out of 50 got an A for their legislative and public-policy work to control and prevent obesity in children. Those states were California, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee. With all of the resources afforded to the East Coast I was embarrassed to find out that New Jersey came in 39^th.