2. College student and award-winning beauty
pageant participant Kelly Dillard is studying
psychology at the University of Northern
Texas. A dancer and fitness enthusiast, Kelly
Dillard is committed to promoting healthy
behavior, and is well known for her efforts to
raise awareness of health and obesity
through pageant platforms and charity work.
3. Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat,
usually caused by an imbalance between
calories consumed and calories expended,
often over a prolonged time period. Between
1980 and 2012, the obesity rate of children
ages 6 to 11 in the United States has more
than doubled, and the obesity rate for youths
ages 12 to 19 has more than tripled.
4. While some effects of obesity can be seen
immediately, others develop over time. Risk
factors for ailments such as high cholesterol,
cardiovascular problems, or elevated blood
pressure increase with the presence of
obesity. Rates of pre-diabetes and diabetes
among youths have been increasing for
decades. In the long term, many children
maintain their obesity well into adulthood,
thus increasing the risk for development of
disease, including some types of cancer.
