A recent survey conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) showed that one out of every four junior high school students is currently overweight. The survey sample included roughly 4,400 junior high students in Taiwan. It found that 35% of boys and 22% of girls are carrying excess kilos, setting themselves up for a host of future medical problems including diabetes.

One culprit is bad food. The survey also showed that soda and other sugar-based drinks are the choice of 80% of junior high school students at least twice a week. Exercise is a daily recommendation for children, but the survey claims 40% of kids in Taiwan are not even breaking a sweat three times a week.

Chairman Chuang Lee-ming of the Diabetes Association of the Republic of China says the time for action has come: "Prevention is more effective than treatment. Since we know that being overweight is one of the risk factors for diabetes in children, we should take the problem seriously."

While severely obese people are currently a rarity in Taiwan, the experiences of the U.S., Canada and much of Western Europe show that weight can sneak up on a population quickly. Taiwan should endeavor to nip obesity in the bud, before it's too late.

 

VOCABULARY      词汇积累

 

1. obesity  (n.)   肥胖；过胖
The overweight man tried to sue a restaurant for causing his obesity.

2. excess  (adj.)   过量的；超过的
The restaurant gave away its excess food to a homeless shelter.

3. diabetes  (n.)   糖尿病
People who have diabetes are often dependent on insulin injections.

4. culprit  (n.)   罪犯；问题的肇因
A raccoon turned out to be the culprit in the case of the missing trash.

5. effective  (adj.)   有效的
People argued about what would be the most effective way to solve the problem.

6. factor  (n.)   因素；要素
One factor that contributed to the collapse of the roof was water damage.

7. rarity  (n.)   罕见的人或事物
Wild animals are a rarity in cities.

7. to set oneself up for   让自己陷入…情况
Building a mansion in a place where there may be a mudslide is setting oneself up for a disaster.

8. to break a sweat   流汗
The professional wrestler lifted 100 kilograms without breaking a sweat.

9. to nip something in the bud   防患未然
At the sight of one roach, Jane sprayed the whole house with insect killer in order to nip the bug problem in the bud.