Did you know that....

16 percent of children (over 9 million) 6-19 years old are overweight or obese -- a number that has tripled since 1980.

Nearly one-third of U.S. Children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food every day, resulting in approximately six extra pounds per year, per child.

Since the 1980s childhood obesity has been on the rise in the United States and has become a major health issue.

Over the past three decades the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years

Americans spend $33 billion annually on weight-loss products and services

An alarming nine million children over the age of six are considered obese in this country.

Over the past thirty years, childhood obesity has doubled for preschool children and adolescents, and tripled for children ages 6-11 years old. Not only are the overall obesity rates increasing, the heaviest kids are heavier than they were thirty years ago

An obese adolescent has a 70% chance of being an obese adult

obese children are more at risk for diseases when they become adults This includes heart disease, cancer, and diabetes

A recent study estimated annual medical spending due to overweight and obesity to be as much as $92.6 billion in 2002 dollars—9.1 percent of U.S. health expenditures.