(ARA) - Obesity impacts more than just the waistbands of
Americans – life expectancy, health, medical spending and
productivity are all affected by the weight of the nation. If
recent trends continue, experts predict all adults will be
overweight or obese by 2048. The statistics are equally as
startling when it comes to youth – one in every three youth are
overweight or obese. Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent
chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. Without regular
physical activity and good nutrition, these trends likely will
not reverse. That is why the President’s Council on Fitness,
Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN), within the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, works every day to promote physical
activity and healthier lifestyles among all Americans regardless
of age, background or ability. The benefits of physical activity
include a lower risk of premature death, lower rates of disease
– including heart disease, stroke, hypertension and cancers of
the colon and breast – and improved