From Organic Connections
Statistical Source: Dream magazine, Winter 2004, published by Children’s Hospital Boston. Children’s Hospital Boston is the primary pediatric hospital of Harvard Medical School.
Just some food for thought
Increase in childhood obesity in the past 25 years: 2.3- to 3.3- fold
Estimated increase, in the past 20 years, in the prevalence of childhood diabetes: 10-fold
Increase in per capita consumption of soft drinks. 1950’s to today: 500 %
Amount that one additional soft drink per day increases a child’s risk for obesity: 60 %
Percentage of school districts that have contracts with soft-drink companies, allowing them to sell soft drinks on school premises: 50 %
Number of food ads viewed by the average child each year: 10,000
Percentage of these that advertise fast food, soft drinks, candy or sugared cereals: 95 %
Estimated annual amount spent on food advertising aimed at US children: $10 billion
Increase in risk for childhood obesity per hour of daily television viewing: 12 %
Decrease in risk for childhood obesity per hour of exercise: 10 %
Average charge for coronary bypass surgery: $60,853
Estimated average cost of three one-hour sessions with a dietitian at an obesity clinic: $180
Annual direct cost of obesity to the American economy: $70 billion
In Health & Service,
Dr. Roland Phillips