Recent findings show that childhood obesity has plummeted by an astonishing 43 percent in the past decade, with data suggesting that attempts to educate parents and children on the benefits of nutrition and exercise are sticking.
Though obesity statistics continue to hover in the same ballpark for the majority of Americans with no telling signs of impending change, the incidence of childhood obesity is dropping. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity in children aged two to five years old had settled to 8.4 percent from 2011 to 2012 - down from the 2003 to 2004 figure of 13.9 percent of American kids.
Prevalence of Childhood and Adult Obesity in the United States, 2011-2012, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, examined trends from 2003 to 2012, and measured weight and height data from 9,120 participants in the 2011-12 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study was based on BMI calculations for both children and adults.
The First Lady, Michelle Obama, spoke optimistically about the results. As a noted advocate of healthy living, particularly in children, Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign has been cited as one potential reason for the drop in childhood obesity rates. "I am thrilled at the progress we've made over the last few years in obesity rates among our youngest Americans," said Mrs. Obama in a statement to the CDC. "Healthier habits are beginning to become the new norm."
The CDC has also credited healthier food options at childcare centers, lower consumption of sugary beverages, and boosted breastfeeding rates to the noticeable decline. "We continue to see signs that, for some children in this country, the scales are tipping," said the CDC's Director, Tom Frieden. "This confirms that at least for kids, we can turn the tide and begin to reverse the obesity epidemic."
However, the researchers have also warned to take the findings with a grain of salt, with obesity rates soaring in teenagers and women over 60, while remaining disappointingly high among adults and kids alike. There was also no considerable overall difference in the obesity rates of children aged 2 - 19, despite the 2 - 5 age group experiencing a welcome decline.
