Why spread erroneous and misleading information? Yes, genetics play a substantial role in childhood obesity, with heritability estimates for body mass index (BMI) typically ranging between 40% and 70%.
One hundred years ago (around 1926), childhood obesity was virtually nonexistent as a public health or clinical issue.
The Reality a Century Ago (1920s)
• Prevalence: Historical and longitudinal data (such as the Fels Longitudinal Study) show that childhood obesity rates in the early 20th century hovered near 0% to 2%.
• The Main Concern Was Malnutrition: Public health discussions from the 1920s focused heavily on the opposite problem: undernutrition, poverty-driven food scarcity, and "breakfastless school children." Studies from that era in major U.S. cities found that up to a third of school-aged children went to school without breakfast or with an inadequate meal of just bread and tea.
• Cultural Norms: Body ideals and living conditions were completely different. Daily life for children involved significantly more physical activity, far fewer processed or calorie-dense foods, and limited access to the continuous, passive entertainment that characterizes modern sedentary lifestyles.
When and Why Things Changed
• The Turning Point: Childhood obesity rates remained low and stable through the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
• The Epidemic Emerges: The sharp upward surge in childhood obesity did not begin until the late 1970s and 1980s, driven by shifts in food production (such as the rise of ultra-processed foods and high-calorie beverages), changes in the built environment, and reduced physical activity in schools and daily routines.
• By the Numbers: U.S. childhood obesity rates tripled from about 5% in the 1970s to over 18%–20% by the 2000s and 2020s
Little is known about the prevalence of child obesity in the U.S. before the first national survey in 1963. There is disagreement about whether the obesity epidemic is entirely a recent phenomenon or a continuation of longstanding trends. We analyze ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Genetics is not mentioned once.
Overconsumption of calories over a period of time is what causes obesity. Full stop.
i bite dog bites , you know , sometimes it's whatchu gotta do if you do eat , you know then dependse ., maybe after thast , maybe a Peanut Buster Or Dilly Bar or if you'd rather go w/ a DQ cherry buster parfet w/ the banana .. well 
No Dependse about it , better spti out your BestBeetlesTooth.
