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           Georgia's Obesity Statistics
 

Georgia is currently in the midst of four epidemics. According to noted economist David Bachtel, these include an epidemic of high school dropouts, diabetes, substance abuse, and gambling. Of these epidemics, diabetes is one of the most troublesome for the state of Georgia, because of the relationship of diabetes and obesity. There are 20.8 million people or 7.0% of the population in the United States who has diabetes. Of this number, 14.6 million people are diagnosed and 6.2 million people are believed to be walking around undiagnosed. Ninety percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes are overweight. The trends in smoking, the level of hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia have declined since the 1960’s. However, the prevalence of overweight has been increasing steadily and dramatically in recent years.

At the national level, about 15.5% of adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3% of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese.  Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavior Risk Factor   Surveillance System (BRFSS) shows that in 1991, four states had obesity prevalence rates of 15%-24%, and four states had rates of 25% or more.  Georgia is one of the later. Clinically based reports and regional studies suggest that type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents, is being diagnosed more frequently, particularly in African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanic/Latino Americans.

 

 

  • Childhood obesity encourages diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
  • In 1968, 80% of kids were active in sport activities everyday. That number is now 20%.
  • By age 17, the average child has spent more time watching television than attending school.
  • 25% of the children today in the US think that french fries are a vegetable.

 

 

According to a report from the Institute of Medicine, childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past four decades. The calorie-dense, fatty, salt diet eaten by American children, combined with the serious lack of physical activity means that 25% of kids under 10 years of age have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or some other contributor of heart disease.  A new report has issued a stark warning that children’s lives will be shorter than their parent’s if this trend continues.



                                                                                                                   The Epidemic