Obesity

The Tooele County Health Department is working with the public as well as day care providers to discuss and educate about the obesity epidemic in our community and on a state level. Obesity, especially in children, is the moving force in our educational goals.

For more information, please contact Malaena, public health educator at (435) 277-2365 or mtoohey@tooelehealth.org

The Effects of Overweight or Obese Childhood predicts obesity and health problems later in life:

• 80% of children who were overweight at any time during the elementary period were overweight at 12 years of age
• Adult diseases now observed in overweight children
•  Hardening of arteries
•  High blood pressure
•  High cholesterol
•  Diabetes
•  Glucose intolerance
•  Sleep-associated breathing disorders
•  Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
•  Social and psychological impact of childhood overweight
•  Social isolation
•  Increased rate of suicidal thoughts and attempts associated with weight-based teasing
•  Low self-esteem due to poor body image
•  Increased rate of anxiety disorders and depression in overweight children
• Increased likelihood to report difficulties in school
•  Reduced self-assessed quality of life
•  Increased likelihood of being bullied