Teenagers are led to obesity

TEENAGERS ARE LED TO OBESITY
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Nanci Hellmich]
Many teens seem doomed to become too heavy by the reality of their environment. That's the conclusion reached by research out today. It also says teens in lower-income families are exposed to more fast food, junk food and other toxic environmental influences than those in higher income brackets. Several new studies by researchers at the University of Illinois-Chicago and the University of Michigan examined teenagers' surroundings, and their findings confirm earlier research. Among the conclusions in a special supplement of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine: Food products account for 26% of TV ads seen by children ages 12-17. The majority of those ads are for fast food, sweets and beverages. Virtually all the products are high in fat, added sugars or sodium. African-American young people, who statistics show watch more daytime TV, see more of these ads than white teens do. Among the environmental changes recommended: Food companies must live up to the commitments they have made to stop marketing unhealthful foods to children.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20070925/d_fatkids25.art.htm