Written by Barbara Hesselgrave
Children who now spend more time in front of a screen (usually snacking) than on the playground can't help but pack on the pounds and reports of childhood obesity have reached epidemic proportions.
The statistics are especially dismal for African-American girls; studies show they start out life at the same weight as their white counterparts but see their body mass index blossom in adolescence.
African-American women between the ages of 12 and 19 are nearly 60 percent more likely to be overweight; less likely to eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less likely to be physically active than white women in the same age group.
And the long-term results can be deadly. An overweight child has an 80 percent chance of becoming an overweight adult, and with that comes an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other weight related problems...
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