Florida’ s Surgeon General says a new report showing a decline in childhood obesity rates puts a spotlight on the state’s number one health problem. Florida is one of 19 states and territories seeing a decline in obesity among pre-schoolers, but we still have a significant problem.
The report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at 11 million low-income preschool aged children and found small but significant declines in obesity rates. But Florida Surgeon General John Armstrong says outside of that population, Florida is still trending towards obesity.
“Right now, almost 15% of Florida adolescents are obese", Armstrong said, "and another 25% are overweight”
Armstrong says the conditions spawned by obesity- heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure, could cost the state over $34 billion over the next 17 years. In January, he launched a statewide Healthiest Weight initiative that aims to reduce Florida’s obesity rate by improving access to healthy foods, promoting physical activity and by helping to create healthy environments.