One Step Ahead Program

Childhood diabetes

• 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

Soft drinks

• Increase in per capita consumption of soft drinks, 1950s 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%

Food ads

• 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 U.S. children: $10 billion

     

  • Budget for the "Five a Day" program, a federal educational program to increase fruit and vegetable consumption: $1.1 million

     

  • Ratio of the entire federal budget for nutrition education, compared with the advertising costs for Altoids mints: 1/5

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  Physical activity

  • Increase in risk for childhood obesity per hour of daily television viewing: 12%

     

  • Decrease in risk for childhood obesity per hour of exercise: 10%

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  Costs of obesity

  • Average charge for coronary by-pass surgery: $60,853

     

  • Estimated average cost of three one-hour sessions with a dietitian at an obesity clinic: $180

     

  • Annual direct costs of obesity to the American economy: $70 billion

   

  Courtesy of:
  Dream Magazine, Winter 2004, published by Boston Children's Hospital. All rights reserved.