Obesity Obesity is one of the largest crisis’s that is facing our country today and Michigan has one of the highest percentages of obese people in the country. In 2011 a study was conducted and Michigan reported having obesity rates as high as 31.3% of the population. The only state with a higher percentage was Louisiana at 33.4%. The national average bumped up to 36% of Americans in 2012 which means the Michigan’s obesity rates have increased even more. Why are Michigan’s obesity rates so high, compared to other states? A big factor in the obese obesity rate is not having proper and adequate nutrition. In 2011 about 80% of Michigan residents both adult and youth did not get adequate servings of fruits and vegetables in per day. In addition 28% drank at least one pop per day. Pop is one of the most fattening things you can put into your body. One can of pop contains nearly 200 calories, and 40+ grams of sugar that gets stored as fat. Nutrition aside the other large factor in our ever growing obesity rate is lack of proper physical exercise. The MiNPAO(Michigan’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program) found in that only 47% of youth were physically active for at least 60 minutes each day, 5-7 days a week. However 30% on average would watch 3 or more hours of TV each day. While 23% would play computer or video games for at least 3 hours each day.
Today’s youth are tomorrow’s future adults. If kids are developing such bad habits right now, then