The YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County has committed to participate in the new national YMCA initiative "Activate America."   We are working with many other YMCAs to fight the growing obesity epidemic that is threatening the future of our youth.  Throughout our program listings, look for the Activate America logo for programs that will help you and your family to become active, healthy people.  Read on to learn more about the challenge we face and what we are doing to help.

Information about America’s growing obesity, chronic disease and health care crisis

• Over the past 20 years, unhealthy behaviors, including physical inactivity and unhealthy eating, have led to an epidemic of obesity and related chronic disease in the United States. 

• Today, obesity is associated with a series of chronic health conditions – including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer, gallbladder disease, arthritis, sleep disturbances and breathing problems[1] – putting the United States in the middle of a serious health crisis and reducing the quality of life for millions of Americans.

• In addition to the chronic diseases and health conditions associated with obesity, being obese is also associated with a lower health-related quality of life. 

• If we fail to curb this obesity epidemic, the youth today will likely have a lower life expectancy than their parents, reversing a trend that has been increasing for nearly two centuries[2].

Here are a few startling statistics:

• For children born in the U.S. in 2000, one in three will develop diabetes, and Latino females are impacted even more – 1 in 2 will develop diabetes.[3]

• 65 percent of all people age 20 and older are overweight or obese.[4]  Since 1991, the prevalence of obesity among adults has increased by more than 75 percent.

• More than 50% of U.S. adults do not get enough physical activity to make a difference in their health.[5]

• During 2005, a total of only 36% of high school students met currently recommended levels of physical activity on ≥ 5 days a week.[6]

• During 2005, 80% of high school students had not eaten 5 or more fruits and vegetables daily and 67% did not attend physical education classes daily.[7]

• Based on figures from 2000, health problems related to obesity cost our country an estimated $117 billion a year due to direct health care costs, as well as the indirect economic costs of lost productivity.[8]

• Hospital costs related to childhood obesity alone have tripled in the last 20 years.[9]

YMCAs nationwide respond with YMCA Activate America™

• YMCA Activate America is a national initiative that is rallying YMCAs across the country to further enhance their service and support to kids, adults and families who want to lead a healthy lifestyle, but struggle to do so.  As a part of YMCA Activate America, YMCAs are also deepening their commitment to community-wide efforts to promote healthy living and intensifying their collaboration with other community partners to magnify their impact. 

• YMCA Activate America was created because – as the nation’s oldest and largest community based organization with over 2,600 YMCAs, 20.2 million members and a mission dedicated to health and wellness – the YMCA is uniquely qualified and positioned to impact our country’s growing obesity, chronic disease and health care crisis. 

• To maximize its impact, the YMCA has enlisted national partners to provide expert advice on the development of YMCA Activate America.  These partners include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Steps to a HealthierUS initiative, Harvard School of Public Health and Stanford University School of Medicine.  In addition, organizations such as Disney Channel, Kellogg Company, JCPenney Afterschool Fund, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and PepsiCo have been instrumental in supporting this initiative.

• For more information about YMCA Activate America, please visit www.ymca.net.