An American Psychological Association survey reported that 42% of U.S. adults gained around 29 pounds in the first year of the pandemic. So it's not surprising that the percentage of obese children and teens jumped from 19% to 22% over the same time period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That can’t become the new normal. It's far too damaging to young people's health, now and in the future.

According to researchers from the University of Georgia, kids' excess visceral (belly) fat infiltrates organs and causes arterial stiffness. That sets them up for everything from high blood pressure to premature heart attacks and strokes, impotence, decreased cognition, and increased risk of mental health problems.

In their study of 600 kids, which was published in the journal Pediatric Obesity, the researchers concluded that the more belly fat a child had, the more damage was done to his or her circulatory system.

In addition, the researchers found that 145 of the kids had already been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is a fast track to even more cardiovascular damage.

As one of the researchers explained, "[Type 2 diabetes] is a very pervasive, scary condition in youth, even more so than in adults. Many body systems tend to degrade at a more accelerated rate if the disease occurs during the growing years. This disease attacks the brain, the kidneys, the bones, the liver."

If your child is obese, talk with your pediatrician, consult a nutritionist, start a family exercise program, and make sure you're eliminating processed and red meats, and dishing up plant-based meals.