According to a study involving 2,734 children, 102 with autism, children have over a three times increased risk of autism, particularly with intellectual disability, if the mother had obesity and prepregnancy or pregnancy diabetes, (Mengying Li, Daniele Fallin, Anne Riley, Rebecca Landa, Sheila O. Walker, Michael Silverstein, Deanna Caruso, et. al., "The Association of Maternal Obesity and Diabetes With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities," Pediatrics 137, no. 2 (January 2016): doi:10.1542/peds.2015-2016). According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015-2016, the prevalence of obesity was 39.8% in the US.
Our government subsidizes the corn industry to make cheap sugar, known as corn syrup, as well as the meat, dairy and fast food industries, which is destroying our health. Marketing food to children and supplying unhealthy food and drinks at school compounds the problem. Many schools have eliminated recess although children need physical activity. Schools need to focus on lifetime sports such as running and cycling. There is controversy over bike lanes even though exercise promotes health, including among other conditions, decreasing obesity and diabetes. We need to be funding health care and education, not health destruction.