Here are a few facts that may influence your opinions about a whether to lead a healthy lifestyle.

• Since 1974, the number of overweight or obese children has increased by 258%, to 15.5% of children in America.
  
  
• 70% of obese children grow up to be obese adults.
  
  
• 35% of overweight children have overweight parents.
  
  
• The average child spends more time per year watching television than attending school.
  
  

Obesity is a life threat with serious health consequences that start as a child and continue into adulthood unless the excess weight is lost.

• Children today have a shorter life expectancy than their parents for the first time in 100 years.



• One in three children born after the year 2000 will develop diabetes unless many more people start eating less and exercising more.



• Diabetes requires major lifestyle modifications, and has no cure. The disease also leads to many complications and is considered a life threat as the fifth-deadliest disease.



• Those who are obese have a 50% - 100% higher risk of premature death from all causes when compared to those of a healthy weight.



• The overweight and obese are at an increased risk for many diseased and health conditions, including the following:
    - Hypertension
    - High total cholesterol
    - Type 2 diabetes
    - Coronary heart disease
    - Stroke
    - Gallbladder disease
    - Osteoarthritis
    - Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
    - Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)