Latest News Local News National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
News Release
Date: September 13, 2010
Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition joins fight against childhood obesity
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
OKC – The Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition has joined 75 national organizations in recognition of National Childhood Obesity Month. The awareness campaign is part of a national effort to eradicate childhood obesity in the United States and ensure young people get a healthy start in life.
During the past four decades, obesity rates have soared among all age groups, increasing more than fourfold among children ages six to 11. More than 23 million children and teenagers (31.8 percent) ages two to 19 are obese or overweight, a statistic that health and medical experts consider an epidemic.
According to a recent report, America’s Health Rankings, prepared by the United Health Foundation, Oklahoma will become the most obese state in the nation by 2018.*
“The growing rate of childhood obesity is alarming,” said Stan Hupfeld, Chairman of the Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition Board and Chairman, INTEGRIS Family of Foundations. “The Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition recognizes the threat obesity poses to the health of our children and has been at the tip of the spear in encouraging legislation and community activities to improve the health of Oklahoma children.” He continued, “Our record of success in advocacy has been very rewarding. As we enter a new phase of collaboration with the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy we look forward to continuing this important work.”
Obese young people have an 80‐percent chance of becoming obese adults and are more likely than children of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults. As a result, they are more at risk for associated adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, stroke, several types of cancer and osteoarthritis.
The financial implications add up to a sobering $14 billion per year in direct health care costs alone. Americans spend approximately nine percent of their total medical costs on obesity related illnesses. Additionally, there are psychosocial consequences that can hinder academic and social functioning and persist into adulthood.
“Childhood obesity is a public health crisis," said Linda Terrell, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. “We must ensure that our state raises a healthier generation. If we keep our kids healthy now, it will reduce a major burden on our health care system while giving millions of young people the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.”
Earlier this year, Congress unanimously passed a resolution designating September 2010 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (D‐OH) and Kay Granger (R‐TX) introduced the Congressional measure establishing the month, which passed the House in May. The Senate version was introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D‐NY) and George Voinovich (R‐OH). It passed the Senate in April.
* Full report: The Future Costs of Obesity: National and State Estimates of the Impact of Obesity on Direct Health Care Expenses located at http://fitkidsok.org/resources/fact-sheets
Contact: Shauna George, 405-236-5437 x 102
About the Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition
The Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition works to create awareness about the impact of childhood obesity and advocate for policy change. The Coalition is a statewide initiative coordinated by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, a statewide, non-profit organization that creates awareness, takes action and changes policy on behalf of children and youth. More information about Fit Kids can be found at www.fitkidsok.org.
