The Huffington Post – Susan Blumenthal, M.D. and Samara Levin
“Obesity is a global epidemic. The global population is expanding in numbers, but also in weight. Rates of obesity worldwide have more than doubled since 1980. In 2014, 1.9 billion adults were overweight and 600 million were obese…And the obesity epidemic is not just an adult problem; 42 million children under the age of 5 worldwide were overweight or obese in 2013…According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if current obesity trends are not reversed, over 70 million infants and young children will be overweight or obese by 2025…Globally, America has one of the highest rates of obesity…Despite the significant actions that many nations have taken so far, much more needs to be done. For the obesity epidemic to be reversed within a generation, all sectors of society must be mobilized in a “health in all policies” approach with government, schools, media, businesses, health care providers, families and individuals involved. Governments must establish policies to promote physical activity and healthy eating…”the health in all policies” approach is a cornerstone to eradicating this preventable condition.”(more)