The Importance Of Childhood Obesity In The United States

Childhood obesity has been considered as an epidemic disease according to the CDC and there are numerous factors that contribute to the increase in rates. Some studies claimed that the prevalence of childhood obesity is common among children who belong in the low socioeconomic household. According to Ogden and colleagues, between the years 2011-2012, there were 16.9% of the youth who were included in the assessment were obese in the United States, and the rate has been consistent since 2009-2010. But there were more significant changes among the subgroup, children aged 2-5 years old, where the reported weight decreased from 14% in 2003-2004 to 8% in 2011-2012. There were 9% of the non-Hispanic Asian population that were obese, according to Body Mass Index (BMI) chart. …show more content…
Even though the BMI correlates with a person’s adipose cell composition, the result still depends on the individual’s race/ethnicity, sex, and age. The same BMI outcome does not entirely mean every person is the same because of the difference between age, gender, and ethnicity. During the assessment, there were recent reports that the prevalence of obesity among youth, low-income pre-school, in the US has decreased between the years 2008-2011. The reason behind the decrease is because these children participated in federal nutrition programs in that 18 states including the US Virgin Islands have conducted. The decrease ranged from .03 to 2.6 percent. Additionally, there is also a decrease in obesity among children ages 6 years old and younger in eastern Massachusetts between the years