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ST. LOUIS, MO – In Missouri, the rate of obesity in children ages 10 to 17 years is lower than 39 other states, according to a new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The philanthropic and non-partisan research group, dedicated to improving the country's health, released its report Wednesday, revealing that nearly one in six young people was obese, which exposed him to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.
The national rate of obesity among 10-17 year olds in 2016-17 was 15.8%, the report said. This is down from 16.1% in 2016 alone, although this decline is not sufficient to be considered statistically significant.
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In Missouri, this number was 12.7% in 2016-17, down from 14% the year before.
The authors noted significant disparities along racial lines. Obesity rates were "significantly" higher among black and Hispanic children than among white and Asian children. Black children had the highest rate (22.5%), followed by Hispanic youth (20.6%). This figure was 12.5% for young whites and 6.4% for Asian children.
Mississippi had the highest rate of obesity in children aged 10 to 17 years (26.1%), followed by West Virginia and Kentucky. Here are the 10 states with the highest proportion of obese children:
- Mississippi, 26.1%
- West Virginia, 20.3%
- Kentucky, 19.3%
- Louisiana, 19.1 percent
- Oklahoma, 18.7%
- Ohio, 18.6%
- Texas, 18.5%
- Georgia, 18.4%
- Alabama, 18.2%
- Iowa, 17.7%
The organization pointed out that nine of the ten states with the highest rates are south. At the same time, nine of the ten states with the lowest rates are in the west or northwest.
Two states had rates below 10%, Utah at 8.7%, followed by New Hampshire at 9.8%. Washington, Minnesota and Wyoming completed the five states with the smallest percentage of obese obese.
The report also praised the progress made in North Dakota, which saw its youth obesity rate drop from 15.8% in 2016 to 12.5% in the combined data set. 2016-2017. It was the only state to see a statistically significant change.
The study used data from the 2016-2017 National Child Health Survey, based on parents' reports of the height and weight of their children. Parent reports are used to calculate the body mass index, or BMI. The BMI is used to calculate percentiles in different age groups and identify obese children.
According to the authors, the survey had been significantly reworked before the 2016 report, and the changes made make it impossible to directly compare the results of the 2016 or 2017 survey with previous versions .
Scientists predict that more than 50% of children today will be obese by 35 years if current trends continue, the report says. If we hope to change this future, the authors have recommended that federal legislators strengthen essential nutrition programs for low-income children and expand programs to make healthy foods more accessible.
Dan Hampton, a member of Patch's national staff, contributed to this report..
Image via Shutterstock
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