Campaign to end Childhood Obesity
&, Obesity as a National Security Threat

• Michelle Obama asserts: obesity is the No. 1 reason holding young people back from joining the military.. the number one greatest national security threat that we have is obesity,..that prevents young people from the ages of 17 to 24 qualifying for the military.

• Childhood obesity isn’t just a public health issue, it’s not just an economic threat, it’s a national security threat as well, as children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn & grow & to pursue their dreams..nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children… These are the basic values that we all share, regardless of race, party, religion.

Signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, 12/13/2010

Obesity – Worse than Cancer?
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

• Secretary Sebelius called obesity data alarming.
• All cancers cost under $100 billion a year.
• About $147 billion a year spent for obesity.
• 1/3^rd of adults are overweight, another 3^rd obese.
• Epidemic impacts costs, life quality, & productivity.
• Huge disadvantage in a global economy, by having a nation that is vastly overweight.

Obesity Cost

• May 08, 2012- CDC study:
• SAVE $550 billion in projected medical costs maintaining the current obesity rate of 36%.
• 42% of Americans will be obese by 2030
• Number of obese will increase from 78 million in 2012 to more than 100 million by 2030 (11%).

IMMEDIATE Health Effects of Childhood Obesity

• Likely to have pre-diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure.
• At 5 to 17 years-old, 70% had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• They risk bone & joint problems, sleep apnea, social and psychological problems, stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

Long term effects

• Obese by age 2 likely to be obese adults.
• Risk all related adult health problems: heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and osteoarthritis.
• Cancer risk of breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, prostate, multiple myeloma & Hodgkin’s lymphoma.