Use the links to jump to one of the sections below or to read other related articles. Pearly Ruiz, a health education assistant in Oakland, was shocked to find her own daughter at risk for high blood pressure and diabetes. Davis Medical Center's Childhood Obesity Clinic blames two trends. Children are eating more junk food. Junk food ads in the media and school contracts with soda and fast-food vendors contribute to this trend.
Children are less active.
Many of these problems are worse for children in low-income families, says Joel Cohen, who presented his California Research Bureau report at a recent legislative hearing on childhood obesity. Low-income parents can't afford the fees for sports programs and may not be able to drive children to practices, says Cohen. Children, however, pay a heavy price for extra pounds. Overweight children are at greater risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, gall bladder disease, heart disease, and other health problems. So now Ruiz and her daughter work with a nutritionist and attend classes on nutrition and exercise.