A Profile of Childhood Obesity in Erie County

Abstract

Produced by the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, this report details information about childhood obesity in WNY. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the USA, and is projected to shorten American life expectancy by 2-5 years over the next 35 years. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 1/3 of children were either obese or overweight (i.e. at risk of becoming obese). This problem is only worsening, as obesity among children and adolescents has tripled over the past 30 years.