From KTAR.com:
Arizona is concerned about its growing rate of childhood obesity, which now ranks 15th in the nation.
Cynthia Melde with the Arizona Department of Health Services says child obesity has tripled in Arizona in the past 20 years and the department is taking steps to help fight it.
"For example, in schools, we're really trying to figure out how to help schools get more salad bars during lunchtome, so that children have more access to choose fruits and vegetables during their lunchtime."
Obese children tend to be obese as adults and that opens up a laundry list of chronic diseases, Melde said.
"Heart disease, diabetes, any cardiovascular diseases."
She is particularly concerned that more and more obese teens are being diagnosed with Type II diabetes, "which is not what we saw 10 to 20 years ago."
However, despite the growing rate of child obesity, Arizona is not following Michigan's lead in asking doctors to report the body fat levels of kids, Melde said.
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