The introductory text reads, Obesity now causes more deaths worldwide than malnutrition. Reductions are possible. A
multifaceted prevention effort—including parents, preschools, pediatricians, and grocery stores— has
reduced obesity among U. S. 2 to 5 year olds: Overall, the prevalence of obesity among adolescents (20.6 percent)
and school aged children (18.4 percent) is higher than among preschool-aged children (13.9 percent) (Hales et al.,
2017). However, obesity rates from age 6 to 60 remain high everywhere.
A color coded world map shows the
prevalence of obesity among children around the world ranging from 5 year olds to 19 year olds. A map key to the
bottom left is titled percentage of obese 5 to 19 year olds and shows 5 differently colored labels, no data; less
than 10 percent; 10 to 15 percent; 15 to 20 percent; and over 20 percent.
The map shows the following
data:
In North America, the countries of Canada and Mexico show an obesity percentage of 10 to 15 percent of
their populations. The United States shows an obesity percent of over 20 percent.
The Caribbean island
nations, Cuba and parts of Central America encompassing Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rice show an obesity percent of
10 to 15 percent while Guatemala and Honduras show an obesity percent of less than 10 percent.
The continent
of South America shows three major trends. The area encompassing Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay show an
obesity percent of 10 to 15 percent. The countries on the west coast such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
show an obesity percent of less than 10 percent. Chile and Argentina show an obesity percent of 15 to 20
percent.
In Europe, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Italian peninsula, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Greece,
Bulgaria and the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia, Sicily, Crete, and Cyprus show an obesity percent of 10 to 15
percent. The remaining countries of Europe show an obesity percent of less than 10 percent.
In Africa, the
countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Libya in the north and Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa in the
south show an obesity percent of 10 to 15 percent. Egypt in the north and Angola in the south are the only countries
in Africa that show an obesity percent of 15 to 20 percent.
The remaining countries in Africa show an obesity
percent of less than 10 percent
In Asia, the Middle Eastern countries of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan,
Oman, and the United Arab Emirates show an obesity percent of 10 to 15 percent while Israel and Saudi Arabia show an
obesity percent of 15 to 20 percent. Iran and Yemen show an obesity percent of less than 10 percent. Kuwait is
another country apart from the U. S. to show an obesity percent of over 20 percent.
China, Thailand, and
Taiwan show an obesity percentage of 10 to 15 percent, while the remaining Asian countries in Central Asia, South
Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia show an obesity percent of less than 10 percent.
In Oceania, Australia
shows an obesity percent of less than 10 percent while New Zealand shows an obesity percent of 15 to 20
percent.
A subheading reads factors contributing to childhood obesity, by the numbers. An introductory text
reads, Children’s exposure to televised ads for unhealthy food continues to correlate with childhood obesity
(e.g., Hewer, 2014), but nations differ. For instance, in stark contrast with the United States, the United Kingdom
has banned television advertising of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt to children under age 16. Parents can help
by limiting screen time and playing outside with their children. The community matters as well: When neighborhoods
have no safe places to play, rates of obesity soar.
An illustration shows fast food item in the center and
point to eight different labels as follows,
Label 1: 30 percent; the percentage of U. S. children who eat fast
food on any given day.
Label 2: 6 pounds; the number of pounds per year that result from these extra fast-food
calories.
Label 3: 110,000,000,000; the amount of money, in billions that Americans spend on fast food
annually. (This is more than what is spent on higher education, computers, and cars.)
Label 4: 12; the number
of fast-food meal combinations, out of a possible 3,039, that meet nutritional criteria for preschoolers.
Label 5: 3; the average number of hours per day U. S. 5 to 8 year olds spend with television and other digital
media.
Label 6: 80 percent; the percentage of all advertisements in U.S. children’s programming that are
for fast food and snacks.
Label 7: 11; the number of food ads that U. S. children see per hour of television
viewing.
Label 8: 1 hour; The minimum number of hours children should be actively moving (either in organized
or spontaneous play) each day, according to the World Health Organization.