“For the first time in our history, children may face a shorter life span than their parents because of the consequences of this epidemic,” Pat Waniewski, director of the Health Department’s Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention, said in a presentation to minority-health advocates.
About 40 percent of public school students aged 6 to 12 in New York City are obese or overweight, compared to 32 percent in the entire state of New York.
But not only does childhood obesity put kids’ lives in jeopardy — it costs the health industry billions of dollars, thanks to related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma.
“New York has the second-highest obesity-related Medicaid-related expenditures in the country: $4 billion a year. That’s $4 billion with a ‘B,’ ” Pat said.
State officials have already praised Mayor Michael Bloomberg‘s efforts to fight obesity, including the approved rule to ban sugary drinks more than 16 ounces at restaurants, and listing calories on fast food menus.
Governor Andrew Cuomo also plans to cut that obesity rate down 10 percent by 2017 — meaning 623,000 younger than 17.
“Fighting childhood obesity and preventing life-threatening illnesses for a new generation of New Yorkers is good public-health policy and something this administration takes very seriously,” Health Department spokesman Peter Constantakes said.
What do YOU think of the childhood obesity statistics HollyMoms?
— Christina Stiehl
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