Childhood Obesity Epidemic in Michigan
- 13.9 percent of low income 2-5 year olds in Michigan are obese, compared to the U.S. percent of 14.8. (Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance Survey, 2008)
- 18.2 percent of Michigan youth ages 10-17 years old are overweight and 12.4 percent are considered obese, compared to the U.S. percentage of 15.3 overweight and 16.4 obese. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2007)
- 14.2 percent of 9th-12th grade students in Michigan are overweight and 11.9 percent are obese, compared to the U.S. percentage of 15.8 overweight and 12 obese. (Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2009)
Impact of Childhood Obesity
- One in four adolescents is overweight. (F as in Fat, 2009)
- Low income and minority populations are disproportionately affected. (Fussman C, Boinapally P. 2009)
- 70 to 80 percent of overweight children become obese adults. (New England Journal of Medicine, 1997)
- Michigan adults have the ninth highest rate of obesity in the United States. (F as in Fat, 2009)
Obesity is associated with physical, psychosocial, and economic consequences and can lead to:
Eating Disorders
Sleep apnea
Asthma
Exercise Intolerance
Gallstones
Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
And numerous other consequences
(Ebbeling CB, et al. Lancet 2002)
Financial Cost of Childhood Obesity
- More than 25 percent of all U.S. health care costs are related to obesity and inactivity. (Anderson, et al 2005)
- Between 1979 and 1999, obesity-associated hospital costs for children tripled from $35 million to $127 million. (Wang and Dietz, 2002)
- Physical inactivity costs $128 per person. (Garrett, 2004)
- Adult obesity costs $2.9 billion in Michigan. (BRFS 2008)
- Higher health care costs (Ostbye 2007)
- Lower productivity (Pronk, 2004)
- Increased absenteeism (Ostbye 2007)
- Higher workers’ compensation claims (Ostbye 2007, Pronk NP 2004, Aldana 2001, Wang 2004)
Contributing Factors of Childhood Obesity
Nutrition and Eating Habits:
Eating less fruits and vegetables than recommended
Increases in snacking, especially on less healthy food
Larger portion sizes of food and beverages
Increases in consumption of sugar sweetened drinks
More food eaten away from home
Lack of access to healthy foods at neighborhood stores
Physical Inactivity:
Spending more time in from of a screen (television, video games, computers)
Less physical activity in schools and at home
Less walking/biking to school and in the community
Communities designed for driving
(Centers for Disease Control)
Eating less fruits and vegetables than recommended
Increases in snacking, especially on less healthy food
Larger portion sizes of food and beverages
Increases in consumption of sugar sweetened drinks
More food eaten away from home
Lack of access to healthy foods at neighborhood stores
Physical Inactivity:
Spending more time in from of a screen (television, video games, computers)
Less physical activity in schools and at home
Less walking/biking to school and in the community
Communities designed for driving
(Centers for Disease Control)
