300 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 (617) 355-6000 Clinical Services (One Step Ahead Program): Childhood Obesity Epidemic Childhood diabetes Increase in childhood obesity in the past 25 years: 2.3-to-3.3 fold Estimated increase, in the past 20 years, in the prevalence of childhood diabetes: 10-fold Soft drinks Increase in per capita consumption of soft drinks, 1950s to today: 500% Amount that one additional soft drink per day increases a child's risk for obesity: 60% Percentage of school districts that have contracts with soft-drink companies, allowing them to sell soft drinks on school premises: 50% Food ads Number of food ads viewed by the average child each year: 10,000 Percentage of these that advertise fast food, soft drinks, candy, or sugared cereals: 95% Estimated annual amount spent on food advertising aimed at U.S. children: $10 billion Budget for the "Five a Day" program, a federal educational program to increase fruit and vegetable consumption: $1.1 million Ratio of the entire federal budget for nutrition education, compared with the advertising costs for Altoids mints: 1/5 Physical activity Increase in risk for childhood obesity per hour of daily television viewing: 12% Decrease in risk for childhood obesity per hour of exercise: 10% Costs of obesity Average charge for coronary by-pass surgery: $60,853 Estimated average cost of three one-hour sessions with a dietitian at an obesity clinic: $180 Annual direct costs of obesity to the American economy: $70 billion Courtesy of: Dream Magazine, Winter 2004, published by Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved. The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice, which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. Copyright © Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved.