Authors: Jamillah Jordan
Date: June 1, 2009
Project: Stimulating Supermarket Development in South Los Angeles
Obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic nationwide, particularly in California. Over a “third of our children, one in four teens, and over half of all adults are already overweight or obese” in California.i These statistics are even higher among low-income communities of color. Obese individuals are at greater risk for chronic diseases associated with poor diet and physical inactivity such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and some cancers. Obesity-related diseases not only take a devastating toll on public health, but also on the economy. California’s costs attributed to obesity peaks at $21.68 billion annually due to medical care, lost employee productivity and workers compensation.
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