African american Quote by Michael Pollan
““According to the surgeon general, obesity today is officially an epidemic; it is arguably the most pressing public health problem we face, costing the health care system an estimated $90 billion a year. Three of every five Americans are overweight; one of every five is obese. The disease formerly known as adult-onset diabetes has had to be renamed Type II diabetes since it now occurs so frequently in children. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association predicts that a child born in 2000 has a one-in-three chance of developing diabetes. (An African American child's chances are two in five.) Because of diabetes and all the other health problems that accompany obesity, today's children may turn out to be the first generation of Americans whose life expectancy will actually be shorter than that of their parents. The problem is not limited to America: The United Nations reported that in 2000 the number of people suffering from overnutrition--a billion--had officially surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition--800 million.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Public Health, 2010
Obesity is a widespread, costly health crisis leading to rising diabetes rates and reduced life expectancy, especially among children and minorities.
In simple terms: Obesity is a major health problem causing disease and high costs.
Key Takeaway
Address diet, promote preventive health measures.
Themes
health
public policy
nutrition
inequality
Mood
concerned
urgent
hopeful
Type
informative
call‑to‑action
When to use this quote
- school nutrition programs
- community health initiatives
- policy reform
- family lifestyle changes
- clinical screening
Key Concepts
epidemic
economic burden
intergenerational health
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we reduce obesity rates in low‑income communities?
- What policies most effectively lower childhood diabetes risk?
A Different Perspective
Complex socioeconomic factors make behavior change difficult.
