Childhood Obesity On The Decline
August 12, 2013Hope For Childhood Obesity
by Tammy J. Colter
It's a fact that too many preschoolers are obese and that children who are overweight or obese are five times more likely to become obese adults than children who are of a normal weight. But there are some signs of hope on the horizon.
For the first time in decades, the obesity rates amongst low-income preschoolers have declined slightly according to a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC) The CDC attributes the decline in part to obesity prevention programs, increased food quality in schools, and changes in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The increase in breastfeeding and programs like Let's Move! are also thought to be playing an important role.
A total of 19 of 43 states and territories are showing a decline. The largest decreases were shown in South Dakota, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, South Dakota, Missouri, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The obesity rates remained about the same in 20 states and Puerto Rico. Three states showed an increase in childhood obesity rates: Tennessee, Colorado, and Pennsylvania.
The research results came from the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System which tracked the height and weight data of approximately 11.6 million children ages 2 to 4 who were eligible for WIC assistance.
The CDC reports that 1 in 8 preschoolers are obese in the US and say that local and state officials can help to play a big role in reducing those numbers. Some of the ways officials can help are to implement the following:
-Help child care providers to improve children's physical activity and nutrition while in their care.
-Improve access to free, safe drinking water in child care centers, on playgrounds, schools, etc.
-Make healthier beverages and food readily available in neighborhoods
-Make local playgrounds, school gyms, and sports fields available during non- school hours.
There is still a lot of work to be done in improving childhood obesity statistics but to know that the rates are not rising significantly is a small step in the right direction.