An Eating Epidemic

Wow. This is an eye opening article on the childhood/teenage obesity epidemic that is running rampant in America. How serious is the problem? Here is a teaser:

The statistics are sobering, and almost hard to believe. Nearly 35 percent of American children ages 6 to 19 are overweight. Half of those—some 11 million children—are so overweight they’re classified as obese. Over the last 25 years, the obesity rate has doubled for young children and has tripled for teenagers. As a result, diseases once associated only with adults, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and even cirrhosis of the liver, are on the rise among children. If the trend in childhood obesity continues, experts predict that over the next few decades, it will cut as much as five years off the average American’s life span. “Our kids,” said California health official Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, “belong to the first generation of Americans whose life expectancy could well be shorter than that of their parents.”

The rest of the article is short, sweet and very insightful. It goes to say how we all play apart in the problem - family/parents, schools, and corporate America.

This really makes me think hard about what I model to my kids in regards to good health. It also makes me think about what is a good theology of wellness for followers of Jesus and our responsibility as Christian leaders. What implications does this have for children and student ministries (teaching, eating, and spiritual environments)?

(bu to BoingBoing)