This morning while passing by Vero Beach High School, a group of 5 kids crossed the street. Four of them were obese.
What we know is that if someone is obese as a youth, they are more likely to be obese as an adult. Obesity is the leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Adults who have diabetes have higher health care costs than adults without diabetes. Who will pay the bill?
I would like to have one hour with the parents of the four kids I saw slowly making their way across the street this morning. They did not move gracefully. If they remain obese, their joints will wear out too soon, their blood pressure will rise, causing them to be placed on medications, and they will probably develop diabetes. When the girls become pregnant, they will be at higher risk for gestational diabetes, increasing the chance of delivering an overweight baby.
When I wrote the book, "Healthy Living with Diabetes: One Small Step at a Time," it was because I was motivated to teach people how to prevent diabetes. Childhood obesity is a wake-up call for Americans to prevent diabetes.
Be honest with yourself. Are you overweight? If so, let's agree to make one small change this week, because the Growing Healthy Kids movement depends on YOU to lead the way for America's children.
Be well.
Nancy Heinrich
Founder, Growing Healthy Kids
www.GrowingHealthyKids.me
www.EconomicWellnessWorks.com
