Why is childhood obesity called an epidemic?
A. An epidemic is defined as “an outbreak or unusually high occurrence of a disease or illness in a population or area” (Source). The rates of childhood overweight (see the previous question) have tripled nationally since the 1970s. State-by-state data on the rates of adult obesity go back to the 1980s and when viewed over time, they provide a clear picture of an epidemic in action. Go here to see this for yourself.
