Growing girth: Childhood obesity is becoming a serious problem in Utah

There will be no more Monster Tacos from Jack in the Box, no more drumsticks from KFC. No more french fries, Coke, 'tater tots or anything else from the junk-food menu that nearly killed him.

Matagi Faamoana, 17, is out of the fast-food business.

Instead, he is working hard to one day get off the ventilator he uses at night, the oxygen he needs all day. He hates the tracheostomy tube that regulates his breath and feels funny, but Faamoana, who goes by "Henry," knows it's keeping him alive.

At 420 pounds, Henry's health represents the most extreme example of an epidemic that has overtaken Utah and most of the nation: obesity among children and adolescents.

Nearly one in four elementary-age Utah children is overweight or at risk of being so, according to the Utah Department of Health.

"The alarming thing to us is we are getting fatter quicker than the rest of the nation," said Dr. David Sundwall, department director.

Nearly everyone agrees — the growing girth of Utah's average young person is a problem.

"I have a huge concern about the childhood obesity crisis because I believe it is a crisis," said Teresa Theurer, a member of the Utah State Board of Education who lives in Logan.

From the Tooele County Health Department site:

"If the child obesity epidemic continues to rise, the upcoming generation of children and adolescents will be the first generation since the beginning of time to have a shorter life span than their parents."

Few speak so pointedly on the topic as Ralynne Purdy, a personal trainer and fitness expert who has started a series of fitness camps and programs for children, adolescents and their parents.

"I think we have got to get really real," said the mother of four. "These kids are fat. And we are not talking about a little baby fat anymore. They are fat."

But what's the answer to this complex problem? Pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Dan Jackson says it's half genetics and half environment. "It's very challenging."

Experts say it's easy to see why the problem is getting worse — beyond the fact that we eat too much and move too little.

We go everywhere in cars and don't walk for transport. We eat large portions of high-calorie, pre-packaged foods. Adults and kids sit in front of the television or computer too long. We don't eat breakfast and get little or no physical education in schools.

We drink soda instead of water or low-fat milk, and we face an onslaught of junk-food marketing to children and adolescents. Parents find it difficult to make time for healthy meals and family activities, and some believe their neighborhoods aren't safe enough to play outside.