Childhood Obesity

Here are some statistics that will make you sit up and take notice: 35.9% of African American children ages 2-19 are overweight or obese, compared to 31.7% of all children those ages. 11.4% of African American children ages 2 to 5 are obese. 29.2% of African American girls, ages 12-19 are obese, compared to less than one in five Mexican American or White adolescent girls who are obese. Obesity is alarming for all children, but what is happening in the African American community that causes so many children to be overweight or obese? Is it diet? Lack of exercise? Genetics? On the next Another View we'll talk about childhood obesity - causes and prevention - with pediatrician Dr. Adayna Upchurch Burrows; physical therapist Dr. Kira Davies with CHKD's Healthy You program; and Xyla King and her grandmother Chyennesia Griffin, who changed their eating and exercise habits after Xyla showed symptoms of pre-diabetes - at 11 years old! Plus Lisa Godley brings us the heartwarming story of Gwendolyn Lee Lomax, a teacher who refuses to give up on students even though she's retired. It's all on Another View, Friday, June 1 at noon on 89.5 WHRV-FM, or stream us at whrv.org.