Obesity has been an increasing problem across our whole nation over the last few decades. Since 1980 the number of young Americans who are overweight or obese has more than tripled (University of Rochester Medical Center). This disease has been rapidly growing and affecting countless lives, many of them people right here in Rochester, NY. Obesity is a growing concern and has begun to be a big problem among youth and children in our area.
The national obesity rate in adolescents and children is 17% (University of Rochester Medical Center). For Monroe County as a whole, they are just below the national average at a 15% childhood obesity rate. The rate of the city however is a lot higher and is almost at 22%. According to a study done by the University of Rochester Medical Center, nearly 40 percent of children and teens living in Rochester’s city are overweight or obese (City Child Obesity Rate Almost Twice as Large as Suburban). The number lowers when looking at the suburbs of Rochester, but 25% of children are still obese or overweight in these suburban areas.
We believe that these numbers are higher in the city due to a few reasons. The first and obvious reason would be due poor eating habits. These children are eating unhealthy meals and not getting a balanced diet that is resulting in extra weight gain. As a team we also realize that it is not just about and poor eating habits but also a lack of exercise. These children have not been getting an appropriate amount of physical activity and as a result of this inactivity they are becoming heavier. As a part of our campaign we plan to address both of these issues in order to reduce childhood obesity in Rochester, NY.
The objectives of this campaign are to increase parents’ awareness of childhood obesity by 60% within 6 months. This awareness includes the prevalence of, and what is considered obesity.