Why Tackle Childhood Obesity?
Childhood obesity is on the rise. Nearly 25 million children and teens in the United States are obese or overweight. In the last 20 years, obesity levels have doubled and are still rising, as are the costs of treating health problems related to obesity. Overweight people are more likely to suffer from type-2 diabetes, heart problems, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea.
Unless we take action now, this generation will be the first in American history to live shorter lives than their parents.
A Heart Attack Waiting to Happen: President Clinton’s Battle with Obesity
President Clinton has waged his own battle with childhood obesity. Though President Clinton is in good shape now, his fondness for fattening food left him overweight as a child – and certainly contributed to the severe chest pains that sent him into emergency heart surgery in 2004. In his words: “I was a heart attack waiting to happen.” Read more about President Clinton’s story.
After a successful surgery and the wave of media attention that followed, President Clinton wanted to find ways to expand this “teaching moment.” It was clear that childhood obesity was a major factor not just in his brush with mortality, but in a number of America’s rising – and costly – health problems.
How Does the Foundation Make a Difference?
Joining with the American Heart Association, President Clinton’s Foundation applies its unique business-oriented approach to the explosion in U.S. childhood obesity. The Foundation’s Alliance for a Healthier Generation challenges and engages four of the biggest influences on kids’ health: schools, industries, health care, and kids themselves. Read more about how the Alliance is working in these areas to help kids grow to be healthy adults.
PROFILE
As part of the Alliance's Healthy Schools Program, Principal Quigley has introduced whole-wheat pizza, a before school walking club and aerobics demonstrations to improve the health of students and faculty at Miami Springs Middle School.
