Study: Snacks Make Up 27% of Kids Calories

(CBS)  American kids snack three times a day and chips, candy and other junk foods now account for more than 27 percent of children's daily caloric intake, according to a new study released Tuesday.

The new research comes as childhood obesity is soaring in the U.S. with more than 12 million American children - roughly 17 percent - considered overweight.

The spike in snacking added 168 calories per day to kids' diets between 1977 and 2006, according to Carmen Piernas and Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina reported.

"To put 168 extra calories per day in perspective: at 3,500 calories per pound, that translates to 17.5 extra pounds a year," says CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook.

The research appears in Health Affairs Journal, which also cites a study showing the national prevalence of obesity among U.S. children ages 10-17 has grown from 14.8 percent in 2003 to 16.4 percent in 2007.

First Lady Michele Obama has taken up the issue of childhood obesity. Earlier this month, Mrs. Obama invited a bipartisan group of lawmakers and Cabinet members to the White House Tuesday to help firm up plans for her national campaign against the growing problem.

The odds of obesity appear stacked against black and Hispanic children starting even before birth, another new study suggests.

[formrusmcsgt]

Obesity-related illness costs top $145 billion each year....$400 million/day.

I could care less personally if the obese choose to disfigure themselves with food, as long as THEY pick up the tab for their gluttony.

Smokers pay higher premiums to offset the fiscal ramifications of their behavior, the obsese should have to do the same.

It is patently unfair to ask others to pay for the additional medical costs related to one's own poor choices.

[formrusmcsgt]

Study: Snacks Make Up 27% of Kids Calories
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No wonder junior's jumbo and has signs of coronary disease in elementary school.....

[foodandart]

75% of healthcare costs go to pay for *chronic* conditions.

http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

Diabetes, heart disease and cancer are amongst the costliest AND the most likely to be diet related.

What is happening in school lunch programs is an abomination - I recently took a look at the menu offered to the children in the city I live. It's ALL junk food - and as Mr. Oliver points out in his talk, it's all hand-held. No wonder we're in a healthcare meltdown, we've hit the charted point on the curve where the 'conveniences' of cheap, refined product start to tip us into a health disaster.

Time to stop, as he points out, we do NOT have the money to deal with this.

And perhaps, it's high time the television networks start to take a long hard look at how their decision to accept advertising dollars from the McFood industry directly contributes to the common acceptance and overuse of product egregiously called 'food' that is sickening millions in the long run.

Will it be worth it when insurance premiums rise even for the biggest corporate concerns, in spite of their ability to collectively bargain policy discounts?

How much does CBS want to pay for this problem, 'cos eventually, you will.

Think about it.

Regards,

Deb.

[GreatDepression]

TEETHs' Action Plan to Eliminate Obesity in America:
----------------------------------------------------
Eliminate Televisions and Obesity will decrease by 60%.

Eliminate Video Games and Obesity will decrease by an additional 30% especially in kids.

Eliminate Computers/Laptops and Obesity will decrease by an additional 10%.

A Good Diet alone without Exercise will not reduce Obesity.

[GreatDepression]

This is your official daily schedule:

From 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, SIT to eat a good tasty breakfast.

From 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, SIT to play games on the Computer. Surf Google to find the latest fun things to do on the computer. Feel free to watch some porns on the computer.

From 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, SIT to eat a good tasty lunch.

From 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, SIT to surf at the various Social Network sites on the computer. Try not to move your feets since that will increase your blood circulation. Do not forget to call your gardener to pay them for their hard physical works on your front and back yards since you just do not have time.

From 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, SIT to watch the News on TV and nothing else. You want to be up-to-date on all the big problems such as Obesity facing our nation. If your kids want to play with you, then tell them you are tried and do not have time for them and your spouse.

From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, SIT to eat a big good tasty dinner. Always reward yourself for working hard. Drink at least a 16 oz can of any good sweet soda refreshment. Avoid fruits and vegetables. If you must have Salads, then you better add some good oily dressing.

From 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, SIT to play some video games with your kids. The video game was expensive. Therefore, use it a lot so not to feel guilty.

From 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, SIT to watch the various entertainment shows on TV with your family or login to your computer and blog at cbsnews.com. Please blame all the obesity problems and side-effects on the fast food restaurants and all the bad foods in the Supermarket that American's demand. Always blame the U.S. Government for not regulating even more nutrition information on the food labels.

From 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM, SIT and lay down to bed. Have a good night.

Please never blame your TV, Video Games and this Computer for your Obesity problems. Never look at yourselves in the mirrors. Never walk outside to smell the flowers on your garden. Your DNA is responsible for your lazy lifestyle. Never let the U.S. Government regulate WE THE PEOPLE what to eat.

Thank you for your kind understanding.

[GreatDepression]

How much of this snack was during a period when the Children was watching TV, playing Video games or surfing and blogging on the internet?

[Cyber998]

Obesity is the true number 1 enemy of America. If there's one thing likely to bring this country down this has to be it (or maybe our dependence on oil). If WW3 started today, half our country couldn't even fit in a uniform, let alone fight effectively.

We should stop chasing desert nomads living in mountain caves (pretending they can destroy America and spend some of the cash on reducing obesity rates, something which actually could destroy America.

[jsf14]

Improve the fruits and veggies! Instead of breeding for transportability, breed for flavor and nutrients. Wooden carrots and cottony apples just don't make your mouth feel good. But people who buy snacks are keeping other people employed, so there is a plus.

[EACummings]

I ran into a friend last night who just started a job at a local elementary school. Knowing I was interested in improving the nutrition of school meals, she shared with me her concerns about "Snack"--a food break where kids are given foods like a "Cocoa-Puffs"-like snackbar.

Fortunately, many schools are providing fruit as a snack. Such high-fiber and low-fat food needn't be a thought of as just a snack or side, though--meals that are rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and grains can be served for lunch and breakfast.

With the upcoming Child Nutrition Act reauthorization, it's important to support efforts that address the overweight and obese conditions that can lead to chronic diseases. For more information, please visit HealthySchoolLunches.org.

[jsf14]

Fruits and vegetables in winter in most of the US are so low in flavor (and some recent studies indicate low in nutrients as well) that they don't appeal to kids or adults. In packaged foods, salt and sugar make up for lack of flavor.

[sandy19731]

It's hard for parents to fight the advertising and culture. We all need to join up an be good examples for our children.

The hallways of the community college where I work is full of snack machines, with very few healthy choices. I'm sure the healthy choices don't sell as well. We need to change the culture.

[sarayntrix]

The healthier choices just might - especially if they are brands known to appeal to those of us with sugar-related illness. I'm always having to supply my own snacks and meals because of what I end up coming across in the snack machines and lunchrooms everywhere I go. It's quite annoying not having a choice when I do those crazy stupid human tricks that earn me 'the shakes' and migraines later.