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Rising rates of childhood obesity ring alarm bells: professionals consider higher costs, long-term consequences on care system.

Article Excerpt
It's no secret that Mississippi is one of the most obese states (number one in some surveys) in the nation and has all the illnesses associated with obesity. With that backdrop, it's no surprise that childhood obesity is increasing, too.

"There has been a definite increase in outpatient referrals from area pediatricians requesting weight loss diets for children and adolescents," says Megan Bartee, registered dietitian with the Singing River Hospital System in Pascagoula. "Today's youth are considered to be the most inactive generation in history. They spend more time indoors playing video games and watching t.v. Also, they have a much greater intake of fast food and convenience food meals than young people in the past."

Eating and activity

Dr. Jimmy Stewart of the University Medical Center in Jackson did a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics and has a clinical interest in hypertension. He sees a lot of hypertension among adults...

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