Obesity In Preschoolers On A Slight Decline
December 27, 2012Obesity In Preschoolers On A Slight Decline
It's a fact. Studies have shown that childhood obesity is more prevalent amongst minority children and those who come from low-income families. The reasons for such outcomes are not yet known, although there are many theories. But, after years of news reports and studies showing that childhood obesity is on the rise, researchers of a newly published study are excited to report that the prevalence of obesity in preschoolers in low-income households has reversed direction. Although the changes in the study were modest, the results are a step in the right direction.
Conducted by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) researchers and published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study included data obtained from almost 27 million children, ages 2-4, with 50 percent who were eligible for food assistance through the Federal WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. Co-author of the study, Heidi Blanck, MS, PhD, CDC attributes the change in direction to the education and awareness of childhood obesity, as well to programs that express the importance of diet and exercise. It is also thought that the increase in mothers who breastfeed is a contributing factor as studies have shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of obesity.
The authors of the study report that their research is the first national study to show a decline in the prevalence of obesity and extreme obesity among young U.S. children.