Zahner: We need strong nutrition programs for Arizona children

Visitor Commentary by Lt. Normal Richard Zahner, U.S. Military (retired), Mission: Readiness

Sadly, our nationwide childhood weight problems epidemic has grow to be so acquainted that it’s generally straightforward to overlook simply how damaging malnutrition is to our youth and our nation’s future.

Listed here are some info that ought to present a actuality verify:

  • In Arizona, the weight problems fee for kids aged 10–17 is 10%, and the speed of weight problems for high-schoolers is 13%; these charges portend a era plagued with lifelong, expensive well being issues in our state.
  • Solely 5% of Arizona’s highschool college students consumed the really helpful day by day quantity of fruits, and only one.2% consumed the really helpful day by day quantity of greens as of 2017.
  • Through the pandemic, participation in class lunch decreased from almost 30 million contributors nationwide per day in 2019, to 23 million in 2020, a big decline that can contribute to greater weight problems charges.
  • These figures have implications for nationwide safety: An astounding 72% of 17- to 24-year-olds in Arizona, and 71% nationwide, are ineligible to serve within the army, with extra physique weight being a major medical disqualifier.
  • This 71% ineligibility determine has led the Military to scale back its active-duty power by 12,000 Troopers — we merely can’t discover adequate high quality recruits in a time of vastly elevated worldwide tensions.

Briefly, our youth don’t eat adequate wholesome, nutritious meals, particularly contemporary vegatables and fruits.

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