Epidemic in Ohio 
Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in Ohio and may cause youth to become the first generation to have a shorter life span than their parents, the state health department director said.
"I don’t think people realize this is an epidemic,” said Dr. Alvin D. Jackson.“We need to have the same type of alarm for this disease (as there is for swine flu) because it’s going to have a major impact on our children’s lives and is going to cost us billions.”
Statistics show 500,000, or one in three, youngsters in Ohio are overweight or obese, Jackson said. And obesity now accounts for 50 percent of the new childhood diabetes cases, up from 2 percent two years ago, he said. “High blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint problems, conditions we used to associate with adults we are now seeing in children more and more,” he said.
The health department along with Gov. Ted Strickland’s office has designed an obesity prevention plan, but Jackson said the work begins at home.
What are the concerns about childhood obesity in general?
Being obese increases a child's risk for some serious childhood medical problems
These include:
Pre-diabetes and diabetes
Heart disease, high blood pressure
High cholesterol
Sleep apnea and breathing problems
Bone conditions, such as hip problems
Gastro-intestinal diseases
Early puberty
Psychological problems, like poor self-esteem and depression
In addition to the risks to kids in childhood, research over the last 40 years tells us that overweight kids are at greater risk of becoming obese adults.
Fooled by Liquid Calories
A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that around 37 percent of our daily liquid calories come from sugar-sweetened drinks. Meaning, Americans are sucking down an average of 400 calories a day through a straw. Reducing your liquid calories is an easy way to jump-start a new diet, plus it doesn’t take too much planning or extra funds. Now where to begin:
Go For It:
Water- One of the most popular drinks and a dieter’s best friend. This beverage not only quenches your thirst and reduces dehydration, but it also increases the calories you burn up. When your body and organs are running on pure water your body runs much better. It also banishes bloating by hydrating the body, if dehydrated the body will hold onto water to make sure it has enough for your organs to function. DRINK FREELY!!
Go Easy:
Milk - Researchers at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville found that having three servings of low-fat dairy per day can lead to weight loss of 10% or more. This beverage is packed with tons of nutrients, which together promote fat burning. But stick to skim or low-fat milks, otherwise the calories build quickly.
Diet Sodas - Don’t let the no calorie, no sugar labels fool you. This beverage is artificially sweetened which can actually lead you to crave sweets more. Keep it simple. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t put it in your mouth.
Juice - Just because it comes from fruit doesn’t make it a healthy option. Many are packed with sugars and twice the calories. If you want the nutrients from fruit, you’re better off eating a whole piece of fruit. So water those juices down if you love them
Super Foods
Imagine a food that is not only nutritious but also can lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, or put you in a better mood. WebMD calls these the Super Foods and they really are super for your health.
The Super Foods include:
B-foods: Beans, Blueberries and Broccoli
O-foods: Oats and Oranges
Pumpkin
S-foods: Salmon, Soy and Spinach
T-foods: Tea (green or black), Tomatoes and Turkey
Walnuts
Yogurt
