Federal health authorities shared some encouraging news yesterday when they announced that the obesity rate among 2- to 5-year-old children has dropped 43 percent over the past decade. Officials said the decrease marked the first broad decline in the epidemic that has been linked to lifelong health issues like heart disease, stoke and hypertension.
The findings were somewhat surprising to researchers, who have recently been focused on determining the long-term effects of obesity when it develops during early childhood. According to the most recent data, only 8 percent of 2- to 5-year-old children are categorized as obese, down from 14 percent in 2004.
“This is the first time we’ve seen any indication of any significant decrease in any group,” said Cynthia L. Ogden, researcher for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and lead author of the study. “It was exciting.”
Still Work To Be Done
Although the figures are encouraging among the nation’s youth, Ogden cautioned that young children make up a very small portion of the American population, and as a whole, obesity rates have remained fixed over the last decade. Roughly 33 percent of adults and 17 percent of youths are categorized as obese.
Ruth Loos, a professor of preventative medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine said the results show that young children are trending in the right direction, but there’s still work to be done.
“This is great news, but I’m cautious,” said Loos. “The picture will be clearer when we have a few more years of data.”
Why The Decline?
Officials say there could be numerous reasons why obesity rates have fallen among 2- to 5-year olds, including:
- Children consuming fewer sugary beverages than they did in the late 90’s.
- More mothers are breast-feeding, which has been linked to healthy weight gain in children.
- Children are simply consuming fewer calories (down 7 percent in boys and 4 percent in girls).
- Changes in environmental and cultural habits promote a healthier lifestyle.
- New subsidy programs that provide low-income families with healthier food options.
- Federal programs, like the exercise programs promoted by Michelle Obama, are having a positive affect on our nation’s youth.
Dr. Silverman comments
This is encouraging news, especially when many stories of late seem to suggest that we as a nation are moving in the wrong direction when it comes our health.
One group that should be commended for their role in lowering obesity rates in young child is parents. At such a young age, children are incapable of regularly feeding/preparing meals for themselves, so that task falls on the shoulders of the parents. It’s clear that a large portion of parents are taking the extra time to prepare a healthier meal for their children than taking the easy route and throwing a Lunchable on their plate.
There have been times on this blog where I have pointed out how parents are failing their children, so it’s only appropriate I do the same when parents do right by their kids.
Kudos, parents. Keep it up!
Related source: New York Times
