The U.S. government estimates that in this country about six million young people are sufficiently overweight to endanger their health. Another five million are borderline, and the problem grows larger every year. Lots of reasons. Families no longer eat regular meals together.
Home cooking is no longer the primary source of meals for many people.
Greasy and sugar-laden fast food is cheap, tasty, and available everywhere. Time spent in front of a TV or computer steals time from sports and other activities that burn calories. Manufacturers of snack food and soft drinks advertise their empty calories directly to children. Schools eliminate or cut back physical education classes. Because of concerns about community and neighborhood safety, parents keep their children from participating in informal, spontaneous playground activities.