Another report, this time from Datamonitor, confirms that the children of the United States are facing a national health crisis.
Childhood Obesity 2002 reports that one in four children between the ages of six and 17 are overweight. The implications of this unhealthy state extend well into adulthood. "Obesity related annual hospital costs have quadrupled in the last two decades, soaring to well over $130 million and fueling the fire in the search to place blame."
Moderator's Comment: Asside from finding scapegoats to blame, what needs to be done to Address this health issue?
Companies do not need to (or should they) be vilified for creating indulgence foods. Consumers, however, do need to understand that full-time indulgence is gluttony - a sin that has scientifically been proven to be deadly. Obesity will soon surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Perhaps it is time for a "Truth" campaign to fight fat. [George Anderson - Moderator]