‘Obesity’ Acquires Permanent Resident Status in the U.S

Obesity has been a frequent flier in search of greener pastures, but now, gauging by the unconditional adulation it has received, has decided on a permanent home in the United States of America. 'O' for omnipresent, obesity, is estimated to have entered into the lives of nearly one-third of U.S children, leaving them with a bagful of unwholesome fat and a life time of woes to follow.

Experts feel that anything above the 95th percentile in the height to weight ratio in children, is considered obese. William Cochran, head of the Pediatric Weight Management Program at Geisinger Clinic in Danville, Pa, said "If your child's weight is jumping up percentiles on the weight charts at annual checkups, it could be a red flag that something must be done."

Experts feel that it is important to seek medical intervention to gauge the eating and physical activity habits, before the child reaches the danger mark. Russell Pate, professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina, and colleagues put a few kids on a basic treadmill test, and much to their dismay, found that kids simply tired out and couldn't complete a simple cardiovascular test. This test led to the inference that nearly a third of kids are obese.

Pate said "About half the overweight adolescents failed to meet the fitness standard, but a large majority of the normal weight kids met it." The warning bell has struck; It is no exaggeration that unfit kids grow up to be unfit adults. Tomorrow may be too late, its time to act now.



Source: Medindia
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