Two topics of conversation sure to make people uncomfortable are obesity and poverty. But both are necessary to conversation about cancer prevention because both increase the risk of cancer and death from cancer. Obesity is a cancer concern because being overweight is linked to an increase for some cancers. Obesity often reflects a nutrition-deficient fat-laden diet and a physically-inactive lifestyle that increase the risks for cancer. This is why the topic of obesity is so important to cancer prevention. Poverty often prevents people from seeking medical care because they cannot afford to see a doctor or undergo early cancer screening tests or cancer treatments once diagnosed with cancer. Researchers and organizations are beginning to devote more time and money into understanding the problem and in finding the solution to the rising obesity epidemic. No where is it more important than in the lives of our children.

From an analysis of national health surveys spanning 33 years, researchers found significantly more overweight adolescents aged 15-17 living in poverty. From the researchers perspective, the two are one and the same issue. Some of the causes for this trend towards obesity are skipping breakfast, inactivity and sweetened beverage consumption. 

In my opinion, we could begin by introducing education in how to use basic foods to create nutritious meals and healthy snacks. In addition -- and I know this might seem pie in the sky -- launching a nationwide community garden program could go a long way in helping the economically disadvantaged in being able to serve fresh and healthy vegetables. As far as physical exercise goes, we need to find ways to make moving fun for the youth in this country. I do not think it is a coincidence that the deeper the funding cuts became for school sports programs the higher the rise in physical inactivity of many of the youth in this country. I realize these are simplistic sounding solutions but it is a start. What do you think might work in solving the obesity epidemic facing kids today?