"There’s a growing epidemic targeting our nation’s youth and adding further strain to the already maxed-out health care system. Nearly one-third of America’s kids are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, depression and a range of life-long health problems.

As a full-blooded Native American, I’ve seen how this epidemic disproportionally impacts Native youth. Nearly one-third of Native 2- to 5-year-olds are obese, twice the rate of the white population, while Type 2 diabetes rates among Native youth ages 15 to 19 soared 68 percent from 1994 to 2004. I am particularly concerned by a study showing that 61 percent of Pueblo children between the ages of 2 and 19 are overweight or obese.

It’s time we do more to stop this epidemic and put an end to the costly societal and economic consequences. Drawing on my experiences and relationships as a professional golfer, I have a unique opportunity to make a difference – one youth and one Native community at a time."

Get the Story:
Notah Begay III: Fighting the battle against childhood obesity and diabetes (Indian Country Today 8/24)

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