Obesity Rates Decline Among Young Poor Children

Researchers say data may indicate that the epidemic has passed

A national study by health officials has found a modest decline in the obesity rate among 2- to 4-year-olds from poor families. The share of children who were obese declined to 14.9 percent in 2010 from 15.2 percent in 2003, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. That modest dip indicates to officials that the obesity epidemic may have passed its peak among this group of children. Researches used height and weight measurements of 27 million children who were part of the federal Women, Infants and Children program, which provides food assistance to low-income mothers and their children up until the child is 5 years old. The report defined a 3-year-old boy of average height as being obese when he weight 37 pounds and extremely obese when he weighed 44 pounds and up. (New York Times)

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