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Donald Monroe of Denver writes:

On this sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, a much larger threat to our nation is rearing its ugly head. Researchers at Atlanta’s Morehouse School of Medicine have just reported a rising rate of high blood pressure among America’s children. Based on surveys of nearly 30,000 children aged 8-17 by the National Center for Health Statistics, the report will be published in the September 25th issue of the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
More than 400,000 American children are developing high blood pressure, a chronic precursor to heart attack and stroke that has traditionally afflicted only adults. The leading cause is the childhood obesity epidemic brought on by a diet grounded in sugary foods and drinks and fat-laden meat and dairy products.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 90% of children consume excessive amounts of fat and only 15% eat the minimum daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. It’s no wonder that most children are overweight and one in six are obese. Childhood dietary habits become lifelong addictions.
Parents should insist that children consume more whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fresh fruits. They should work with their PTAs to demand healthy meals, snacks, and vending machine items in schools. Helpful resources are provided at www.choiceusa.net.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

dont worry hillary care is on the way and its only 110 billion a year and all of these ills will go way.

I wouldn't say thay childhood obesity is that great a threat to me personally. Am I supposed to be worried about a fat kid falling down and crushing me, or what? On the other hand, if we want to take childhood obesity as seriously as terrorism, I guess we could round up all the fat kids and their parents and send them all to Guantanamo for remedial nutrition classes. It's the least we could do to address a "much larger threat to our nation" than 9-11.

3:24.

Spend money on health care for Americans? That would cost Billions!!! But those terrorists are out there so we need to keep spending billions upon billions in Iraq. I find it so interesting that when health care for Americans is brought up the conservatives scream "but the cost, it will cost billions" but never a peep about the billions and billions wasted and missing in Iraq.

Personally, I think spending billions on Iraq kids makes lots more sense than spending billions on American kids. Besides, Iraqi kids are cuter than American kids.

The biggest threat to this country is a dem.getting into the White House in 08'.And the dems. winning congress.

well mr socialist karl you can pay for others as much as you want to. oh and dont forget to have proof so you can get a job

"I wouldn't say thay childhood obesity is that great a threat to me personally."

That's the ticket, Karen. If it's not a threat to you personally, the hell with it. Great attitude!!!

7:53,

Yep wanting Americans to have health care is being a socialist, but wanting to spend billions upon billions in Iraq which was the biggest mistake since vietnam is patriotic. I find the the irony unbelievable that the cons are willing to spend billions upon billions to keep America safe from terrorists, but don't want to spend anything to keep them healthy.

You know childhood obesity was not a problem when children were allowed to go out and play. Running around in games of tag and dodge ball. Doing competitive sports. Yet now we sit them down and tell them no recess if you play these games or if you run. Its all computer and television games now that occupy thier time.

I wonder if we allowed kids to be kids they would run some of this obesity off?

No more tag, ACLU defending child molesters, No running alowed in miami dade county school yards. Everybody "wins" when playing sports. It is no wonder our kids are fat, they cannot do any of the things we were allowed when we were kids because they'll either be raped/killed, offended becuase somebody "touched me" or might lose a game or two and learn how to cope with a loss or minor failure in life.
What a joke this country is becoming.
Politically correct go home

Well, I see the agendanites have fallen all over this letter.

How come no one mentioned illegal aliens here? too soon, maybe later.

How about getting you and your fatass family outside for some outdoor activities instead of watching tv and eating ice cream each and every day ???

UNPLUG YOUR KIDS ALONG WITH YOURSELF YOU IMBECILES

Fresh, I think you're in need of a bowl of ice cream to cool you off.

Karl:
"Provide for the Common Defense" is a specific mandate to the Federal Government.
Worrying about overweight kids is not. While overweight kids maybe a worthy elective, equating the two, is inaccurate.

GG

GG - You took the words right out of my mouth.

Karl need to aquaint himself a little better with the Constitution.

It isn't a matter of equating anything as GG wrongly claims. Karl is simply saying that we should spend less on Iraq and more on the nation's domestic welfare. I think most Americans agree.

TRUTH!! GET A JOB LEAVE US ALONE..

I tend to think of obesity as a lifestyle choice that some people make. The health consequences of it should be the responsibility of the individual, not the government.

The Bush/Cheney crime cabal can't make money off childhood obesity, so nothing will be done. When you're a war profiteer you have to make sure that the focus stays on war!

A bigger focus should be mental health, though - imagine how much better this site would be if we could get Keith & Un-American some help.

If you would like to help bigger kids, here is a link to a site that needs you:
http://www.the3day.org/sandiego07/nickdaniel

""TRUTH!! GET A JOB LEAVE US ALONE..
Posted by on September 19, 2007 01:03 PM"

I've got one. George Soros pays me big money to straighten people like you out. And stop hollering in my good ear.

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