Is it too late?....No!

Several scary health predictions about this generation of children.

It's sad to talk about this generation's health future. No, it's scary to talk about this generation's future.

• A generation that may, for the first time ever, live a shorter lifespan than their parents.
• This is a generation that is already seeing diabetes, joint disease and heart disease as children.
• These are diseases that once were only associated with adults.

I am sad to think about their future since as an ICU nurse I cared for elderly patients who had these chronic conditions but only as an adult. I can't even imagine what the ICU is going to look like when we have young adults in there with chronic diseases they have had for years...since they were kids.

This article discusses our country's plight and struggle with childhood obesity. Here is some stats to think about:

• kids in elementary school are suffering with high blood pressure
• one out of three children are overweight in the United States
• less than 20% of children eat the required amount of fruits and vegetables
• up to 80% of obese teens will become obese adults

these are just some of the stats But what is also a huge concern is what it is going to do to our health system, our economy to have all these sick adults.

• the cost of treating this children is expected to add billions of dollars to the US healthcare bill

To read more, here is the full article.

What is really sad is that it is avoidable.

We have to really be honest about nutrition education and promoting activity. We just need to start. Baby steps. Every positive step is a step to a healthier child.

We can make a difference. We just have to start today.