Overview of Meriter
Virtual Tour of Meriter
Meriter Physicians
Commitment to Quality
More
Patient Center
Meriter Hospital
Meriter Medical Clinics
Meriter Medical Group
Meriter Laboratories
Meriter Home Health
Meriter News
Video Showcase
Meriter Awards
Site Features
More
Meriter Stories
Birth Experiences
What’s Your Story?
Meriter Classes & Events
Discussion Boards
Meriter Newsstand
More
Maps/Directions
Online Gift Shop
Meriter E-Cards
Cafeteria/Coffee Shop
More
Job Postings
How to Apply
Career Paths at Meriter
Nursing at Meriter
Employee Benefits
More
Give to Meriter Foundation
Become a Volunteer
More
Feedback Form
Customer Satisfaction Survey
Web Site Survey
Browse Our Encyclopedia
for for Diseases & Conditions, Surgeries & Procedures
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Search Healthy Living
Go
Increase Text Size
Healthy Living Home
Meriter Resources
Classes and Events
Discussion Boards
The Meriter Newsstand
Community Resources
Library
Healthy Living
Back and Neck Care
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Fitness
Mental Health
Nutrition
Smoking Cessation
Stress Management
Weight Management
Call To Action
About Weight Loss
Nutrition
Exercise
Behavior
Related Health Issues
Children and Teens
Call To Action
Nutrition
Exercise
Behavior
Related Health Issues
More Resources
Health News
Healthy Recipes
Nutrition Facts
Online Resources
Success Stories
Chemical Dependency
Health Centers
Your Family
Interactive Tools
About This Site
Weight Management
Children and Teens
Home
Healthy Living
Weight Management
Children and Teens
Call To Action
Poor diet and inactivity are poised to become the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Formerly No. 1: tobacco use.
Nutrition
Deaths from poor diet and inactivity have risen by 33 percent over the last decade. Sixty-four percent of us are now obese or overweight.
Exercise
One in five U.S. children is overweight or obese. That's twice as many as 20 years ago, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Behavior
If Mom and Dad are couch potatoes, it can be contagious. It's easier to prevent obesity in childhood than try to correct the problem as an adult.
Related Health Issues
Being obese or overweight increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, gout and a host of other health problems.