UMaine Study Cited in Press Herald Article on Nutrition

The Portland Press Herald cited a 2012 University of Maine study on the state’s obesity rates in an article about U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stressing the importance of childhood nutrition. Vilsack said preventing obesity is a critical issue to helping young people thrive in their health, education and economic achievements. The UMaine study cited in the article found that in Maine, 7.8 percent of children and adolescents are obese, and including adults, 23.1 percent of the state’s population is obese. The study also found the annual medical costs of obesity in Maine are about $453 million.