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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Girl’s odyssey shows challenge of fighting obesity

By LINDSEY TANNER

AP Medical Writer

CHICAGO – Paris Woods is hardly a poster child for the obesity epidemic. Lining up dripping wet with kids on her swim team, she’s a blend of girlish chunkiness and womanly curves.

In street clothes – roomy pink sweats or skimpy tank tops revealing broad, brown swimmers’ shoulders – the teen blends in with her friends, a fresh-faced, robust-looking All-American girl.

That’s the problem.