Childhood obesity continues to be a rising health problem. Some
experts say it’s the biggest public health challenge of our
time. In the past 40 years, in the United States alone, child
obesity rates have tripled; and today, nearly one in three
children in America are overweight or obese. Contributing
factors are complex and often oversimplified, yet studies show
that poor nutrition, sugar-sweetened beverages, excessive screen
time and inadequate physical activity are contributing to the
problem. How did this happen? Thirty years ago, most children
led lives that kept them at a healthy weight. Kids walked to and
from school every day, ran around at recess, participated in gym
class and played outside for hours after school. Home-cooked
meals with fruits, vegetables and reasonable portion sizes were
the norm. Eating fast food was infrequent, and snacking between
meals was an occasional treat. Today, children experience a very
different lifestyle. Walking and biking to and from school have
been replaced by car