There is an epidemic of obesity in the US today. Consider the following:
- 1 in 3 Americans is overweight
- 1 in 5 or 129.6 million are obese
- 70% of Americans dieted in 2007
- 95% of all diets fail if exercise is not part of the program
- Yo-yo dieting leads to eating disorders and may be the single most common “cause” of disordered eating
- In a recent study, young girls were quoted as saying that they would prefer to have cancer, lose both their parents, or live through a nuclear holocaust than to be fat.
- 80% of girls in grades 3 to 6 displayed body image concerns and dissatisfaction with their appearance
- 81% of 10 year olds say they are afraid of being fat
- By the time girls reached the 8th grade, 50% of them had been on diets, putting them at risk for eating disorders and obesity.
- 25% of first graders admit to having been a diet.
In my practice, I often see patients that were overweight as children and experienced such self-hatred or shame that their eating disorder is a conscious attempt at avoiding that situation again.
For others, a family member, perhaps a father or mother or even a grandmother or an aunt with a weight problem triggers intense anxiety about weight gain.
The prevelance of childhood obesity in the United States is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the percentage of overweight children 2-5 years of age has doubled, with one in four pre-schooler’s being overweight or at risk for obesity. Fifty percent of these children will become obese adults. For more information about this study you can visit the CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/#1
Adam Yust | Roos Tribute | EDP Web