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Study: Childhood obesity in U.S. accelerated during pandemic:
A new study ties the COVID-19 pandemic to an "alarming" increase in obesity in U.S. children and teenagers.
Childhood obesity has been increasing for decades, but the new work suggests an acceleration last year — especially in those who already were obese when the pandemic started.
The results signal a "profound increase in weight gain for kids" and are "substantial and alarming," said one of the study's authors, Dr. Alyson Goodman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It's also a sign of a vicious cycle. The pandemic appears to be worsening the nation's longstanding obesity epidemic, and obesity can put people at risk for more severe illness after coronavirus infection.
The CDC on Thursday released the study, which is the largest yet to look at obesity trends during the pandemic.
It found:
- An estimated 22% of children and teens were obese last August, up from 19% a year earlier.
- Before the pandemic, children who were a healthy weight were gaining an average of 3.4 pounds a year. That rose to 5.4 pounds during the pandemic.
- For kids who were moderately obese, expected weight gain rose from 6.5 pounds a year before the pandemic to 12 pounds after the pandemic began.
- For severely obese kids, expected annual weight gain went from 8.8 pounds to 14.6 pounds.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Saturday September 18 2021, @04:59AM (1 child)
or you could have better rules/laws [foodstandards.gov.au] about labelling ingredients that enable you to make informed decisions..
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Saturday September 18 2021, @06:44AM
Agreed.
but what I've seen food manufactures do is reduce the amount of real sugar in the product so the calories per serving goes down to where the product looks really good to someone counting their calories but then add an artificial sweetener to bring the product's perceived sweetness back up to where it was when a serving had twice the calories of the new formula. Since the product still has real sugar in it they don't have to label it as "sugar free" and can honestly say "reduced calories" or not even mention it at all. They are following the current labeling laws to the letter.
Where it is a major issue is that there are people, myself among them, who have adverse reactions to the artificial sweeteners being used by the industry. In the case of aspartame I get a migraine that puts me in bed for the rest of the day. Sucralose isn't as bad in that regard but it also leaves a nauseating aftertaste that will leave me wanting to regurgitate the contents of my stomach until the flavor fades. I've generally learned to just always read the labels VERY carefully. It is a real eye opener to see how many products contain something you don't expect in that group of foods.
If the laws also required warning labels to clearly state that the product contained an artificial sweetener I and others like me, or people just trying to avoid artificial sweeteners in general would be quite pleased.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."