The rising tide of childhood obesity

Thomas Verny is a clinical psychiatrist, academic, award-winning author, public speaker, poet and podcaster. He is the author of eight books, including the global bestseller The Secret Life of the Unborn Child and 2021’s The Embodied Mind: Understanding the Mysteries of Cellular Memory, Consciousness and Our Bodies.In Canada 25 per cent of four- to 11-year-olds and 33 per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds are overweight or obese. [1] In the U.S. 14.4 million children and adolescents are affected by obesity. [2] International reports suggest that the global prevalence of pediatric obesity has tripled over the past 30 years, [3] a trend that likely accelerated during the COVID pandemic. [4]