In This Article
Subscribe to National Updates
Childhood Obesity Not on the Rise After All
May 29, 2008 10:43 AM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Despite widespread fears about an obesity epidemic, childhood obesity rates in the United States have stayed the same since 1999, according to a government study.
30-Second Summary
Health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculated the body mass index (BMI) of about 8,000 children and teens in the report, which was published in the latest issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
After 25 years of worsening news about childhood obesity, the study “provides a glimmer of hope,” said David Ludwig, a pediatric endocrinologist at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital in Boston. But he warned that it is too early to tell whether the rates will stay at this plateau for a significant period of time.
Consumer activist group The Center for Consumer Freedom welcomed the news, accusing health activists and health officials of using alarmism to justify intrusive regulations by the government. “These findings fly in the face of almost a decade of threats by obesity activists,” the center says on its Web site.
But health experts are still concerned that roughly one-third of children remain classified as overweight, obese or morbidly obese.
“Go to a local school, park out front and observe the kids and you will see that roughly one-third of them are overweight or obese. It’s staggering,” says Dr. Reginald Washington, a pediatric cardiologist at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver.
After 25 years of worsening news about childhood obesity, the study “provides a glimmer of hope,” said David Ludwig, a pediatric endocrinologist at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital in Boston. But he warned that it is too early to tell whether the rates will stay at this plateau for a significant period of time.
Consumer activist group The Center for Consumer Freedom welcomed the news, accusing health activists and health officials of using alarmism to justify intrusive regulations by the government. “These findings fly in the face of almost a decade of threats by obesity activists,” the center says on its Web site.
But health experts are still concerned that roughly one-third of children remain classified as overweight, obese or morbidly obese.
“Go to a local school, park out front and observe the kids and you will see that roughly one-third of them are overweight or obese. It’s staggering,” says Dr. Reginald Washington, a pediatric cardiologist at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver.
Headline Link: ‘U.S. childhood obesity rates level off’
The study also found that 32 percent of children and teenagers are still at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and other obesity-related issues.
Source: NPR
Opinion & Analysis: Threats of childhood obesity fall flat
The Center attributes steady childhood obesity rates to parents and other community members “taking it upon themselves” to encourage children to exercise and eat balanced meals.
Source: The Center for Consumer Freedom
“This study provides the first glimmer of hope, but it’s too soon to tell whether the data present a true plateau of obesity rates or just a temporary lull,” says David Ludwig, a pediatric endocrinologist at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital in Boston.
Source: ScienceNews
A blogger wonders how the general alarm about childhood obesity affects kids who are not of normal weight. “I sometimes feel on tenterhooks navigating the nutrition recommendations and exhortations while preserving my own sense of sanity not to mention preferences and yes, cravings. And I have two young girls that each deserve a lifetime of healthy and pleasurable eating.”
Source: Momma Data
Related Topic: ‘Schools can’t afford healthy lunches’
Studies have shown that childhood obesity can be curbed when kids eat a healthy school lunch. But spiking prices of milk, grain, produce and meat are forcing schools to consider rolling back healthy-food initiatives in favor of less expensive, high-calorie alternatives.
Source: findingDulcinea
Reference: Adult obesity, CDC, JAMA
Almost one-third of American adults are considered obese, according to a 2003–04 National Center for Health Statistics survey. The findingDulcinea Web Guide to Obesity can help you learn about causes and health effects of obesity and can help you curb or prevent obesity with lifestyle changes, especially where diet and physical activity are concerned.
Source: findingDulcinea
Overweight children have a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex, according to the 2000 CDC Growth Charts in the U.S. The BMI is a simple calculation of height to weight.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The newest issue of JAMA contains the following articles on childhood obesity: “High Body Mass Index for Age Among US Children and Adolescents, 2003-2006” and “Tracking Pediatric Obesity.”
Source: The Journal of the American Medical Association
© 2009 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
