尽管所有的美国孩子肥胖症发病率急剧增长，但某些特定的少数民族像黑人、西班牙人、印第安人等，他们的增长率一直是最高的。根据医学标准，这些种族中大约有25%的儿童有肥胖症。
Poverty is another risk factor. Between 1986 and 1998，the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables increased substantially more than did the cost of carbonated drinks，meat，sweets and snacks. So it's literally cheaper to eat unhealthy foods.
贫穷是导致肥胖症的另一个原因。在1986年到1998年间，新鲜水果和蔬菜的价格增长明显超过了碳酸饮料、肉、糖和零食的价格。所以吃不健康的食物显然比较便宜。
Improve school food
提高学校的餐饮质量
To help make ends meet，some schools have installed vending machines selling soft drinks and snacks. The schools typically receive a percentage of the sales from these machines. Parents can request that their local school boards require all food and beverages served or sold at school to meet accepted nutritional standards.
为了平衡收支，一些学校在学校里安装了出售软饮料和零食的自动售货机。学校一般都会从这些售货机收出的食物中提成。家长可题要求当地的学校委员会命令所有的学校内售出的食品和饮料达到公认的营养标准。
Parents also can advocate for daily physical education（PE）classes for all students. PE classes have been reduced or even eliminated in many schools because of budget constraints. Latchkey children often aren't allowed to play outside their homes until their parents get home，so exercise time at school is even more important.
家长也可以要求开设所有的学生参加的每天的体育课程。由于经费紧张，很多学校已经压缩甚至取消了体育课。孩子们经常都被锁在家里，不能外出活动，一直到他们的父母回家。所以学校的体育锻炼就尤为重要。
Worth the time
花时间是值得的
Many families feel they don't have the time it takes to prepare healthier meals and exercise more. Shopping，cooking，sharing a meal and cleaning up do take longer than zipping into the drive-through lane at a fast-food restaurant.
很多家庭都觉得他们没有给孩子提供更加健康的食物和陪孩子锻炼的时间。去商场买菜、做饭、一起吃饭和饭后洗涮肯定要比去一家快餐店的取食物的穿梭通道更花时间。
But the dangers of childhood obesity are real，and they are starting to take a toll. Helping set your kids on the path to a healthy future is one of the most important things you can do for them. Your investment in time will pay big dividends throughout their entire lives.
但是，孩子们面临的肥胖症的危机就在眼前，这些危机已经开始给他们造成了不良的影响。引领你的孩子走上一条通向未来的健康之路是你能为他们作的最重要的事情之一。你在这方面的时间投资会使他们获益终生。
joozone.com