28% of 2,700+ Delaware high school, middle school and elementary students were overweight or at risk for overweight (measured heights and weights).

OBESITY-the fastest growing national public health problem.

Obesity is the fastest growing public health problem in this country. Almost two thirds of U.S. adults (64-65%) are either overweight or obese

More children are gaining unhealthy amounts of weight earlier in life. The number of overweight children in this country has doubled since the 1980's. In the same time frame the number of overweight teens has tripled.

Called by experts the latest "health epidemic," obesity is a major cause of chronic diseases, illness and loss of quality of life for many American families.

For more information about the national problem of obesity, click on any of the following links:

Chronic Prevention Programs Nutrition & Physical Activity

Obesity Education Initiative

Knowledge Path: Obesity in Children and Adolescents
 

Overweight and Obesity in our own back yard---Delaware County

Based on recent survey statistics, the problems of overweight and obesity are no stranger to Delaware County.

The Causes of Overweight and Obesity

At the heart of the health problems of overweight and obesity are both genetics and lifestyle habits. While we can't choose our genetics, we can choose our lifestyle, which means choosing how we eat and how we build more physically activity into our daily life.

Choosing to Eat Healthier
Experts suggest we might get the biggest dietary benefit by focusing on the type and how much fat we eat every day. A super heart healthy and better weight management amount of fat for both healthy adults and teens is 40-50 grams of total fat per day, with an increase in heart healthy fats and a decrease in saturated fats.

Healthy Fat Tips:
Focus on heart healthy sources of fat--canola oil, safflower oil, corn oil and olive oil for example.
Make small dietary changes that decrease your total fat intake and decrease your intake of saturated and trans (hydrogenated) fats.

Look at your fast food choices high in saturated and trans fats and consider healthier items. Click on your favorite fast food restaurant link below to look up the nutritional content of all their posted items.