December 18, 2023 – Severe obesity amongst preschool-aged children from low-income families is increasing within the U.S., in response to a brand new evaluation of federal data.
An estimated 2% of kids ages 2 to 4 suffered from severe obesity in 2020, up from 1.8% in 2016 report that appeared on Monday in Pediatricsa journal published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The increase was “small but significant,” a gaggle of experts not involved within the research wrote in a press release accompanying commentary published parallel to research.
The latest data puts an end to hopes that childhood obesity is declining, as a slight decline was seen from 2010 to 2016. Instead, researchers found that the brand new childhood obesity numbers reflect those of the overall population. Around 20% of children and adolescents within the United States are obese, and about 42% of them Adult within the US are obese, in response to the CDC.
This latest study examined severe obesity, defined as significantly over 95Th Percentile for the combined height-weight measure often known as Body mass index. The numbers are essential since the prevalence of severe obesity in young children could also be a harbinger of health problems that will occur at levels that raise concern amongst public health officials, policymakers and health professionals.
Compared to children with moderate obesity, children with severe obesity are “at higher risk of a variety of health complications, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and premature death,” the study authors wrote.
The largest increases in severe obesity between 2016 and 2020 were observed amongst 4-year-olds and amongst Hispanic children. When state-level data, Alaska was the one state to report a decline in severe obesity amongst young children from 2016 to 2020.
The latest estimates are based on data from children enrolled within the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also often known as WIC.
“WIC is a federal assistance program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, health care referrals and other services to millions of low-income pregnant and postpartum women, as well as infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. “ summarized the researchers.
According to the new figures, 16.6 million children aged 2 to 4 suffer from severe obesity. Severe obesity at this early age is “almost irreversible,” the commentary article's authors noted, adding that there is little research to suggest how to effectively treat obesity before age six.
“The study highlights the need for continuous monitoring… of children's health status after the pandemic,” a Press release declared by the American Academy of Pediatrics. “It also supports the need for children and families from lower-income households across the country to have access to early clinical detection, such as: B. Health care screenings and referrals to effective family-based interventions to support healthy growth.”