In our fat-phobic culture, all overweight people endure a
certain amount of criticism and discrimination. Overweight
children, however, suffer the cruelest treatment in school and
on the playground. - An overview The U.S. government estimates
that in this country about six million young people are
sufficiently overweight to endanger their health. Another five
million are borderline, and the problem grows larger every year.
Why? Lots of reasons. Families no longer eat regular meals
together. Home cooking is no longer the primary source of meals
for many people. Greasy and sugar-laden fast food is cheap,
tasty, and available everywhere. Time spent in front of a TV or
computer steals time from sports and other activities that burn
calories. Manufacturers of snack food and soft drinks advertise
their empty calories directly to children. Schools eliminate or
cut back physical education classes. Because of concerns about
community and neighborhood safety, parents keep their children
from participating in informal,