European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Dramatic Rise in childhood obesity byte Finesmith Cox news services obesity among children in to a United slates Rose dramatically Between 1963 and 1980, a new uns Tysa of govern my a Dan indicates and suspected causes too much television too mile exercise and too much lat food apparently have not changed researchers said Steven Gortmaker of he Harvard school o Public , and William Diel director of clinical nutrition at the Nuj England medical Centof in Boston said Dala from four National health and nutrition surveys indicate pronounced and rapid increases in childhood obesity ctr ring he r 7-year period. Even with the increases Only around 20 percent of the country s children were obese in 1980, they said in an article published in the american journal of diseases of children. But Iho trend was so Strong and so rapid that to can no longer afford to ignore childhood obesity As a medical problem " the fact that obesity in adolescents has risen so dramatically implies Fiat Achill obesity and the prevalence of diseases associated with Ohe Sily in adulthood arc also going to Rise dramatically Dieltz said in an interview aside from psycho social problems suffered by " at  obesity has few known in Mcdale health effects on children to said. However obese Adolf scenes arc Likely to become obese adults to said and obesity among adults is associated with hypertension adult Onset diabetes and  lipid balances parch ulary involving cholesterol thus an obese cd is More Likely to become a Nhea Jirry adult diet and gof maker said the reasons Lor Iho increased number of overweight children were not immediately apparel however they cited As possible reasons increased television viewing by children diet chills including consumption of More Lal and fast foods ind Lack of e Curcis la s Sale to say that the Lifis Lle of american children whether it s because of Macii Vily or my Cavil Tood consumption or an increased  on Lood is Clear / promoting an increase in the prevalence of obesity Ditz said National health and nutrition surveys were extensive examinations of thousands of americans data is maintained by the nah Onat Center Tor health so Alistick died said the thickness of Ince Somlo tyls was used As Cilena of childhood obesity in the surveys. The thickness of a fold of skin behind the upper Arm has been used As a measurement of Bonfy latness and is sometimes seen As More reliable than weight to height surveys particularly among children Var Jose Ideal via of l is constantly changing Dicu said no and Gortmaker arbitrarily defined obesity in the first Survey Laken Between 1963 and 1965, As the top 15 percent in terms of Iho i Richness of the Sai Foin s by 1930. He said around 22 percent of those surveyed had skin Olds As thick As or thicker than the lop is percent m the lust Survey an increase of Over 40 porcini among children Between 6 and 11. The prop orhon in the obese category increased by 54 percent Between j963 and 1980. He said. Among adolescent 3 be i Ween 12.ind 17, the increase was 39 percent he said in addition. The analysis my scaled the proportion of 1  children those Wilh Scricc a skin old thicknesses above 95 percent of their age group m the 1960s, had increased by 09 percent by i960 the cause of the apparent increase in obesity is unclear a couple of years ago it was shown thai Here is a it