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The research report, released Wednesday, shows that the national rate of obesity among children aged 10 to 17 was 15.8% in the combined data of 2016 and 2017, similar to the 16.1% rate found for 2016 data only.
"About one in three young people nationwide are overweight or obese and I think the new data we publish is a stark reminder of that," she said. The data "should really inspire us all to think about the kinds of changes we need to make to help all children grow up with a healthy weight."
The current state of obesity in children in America
Combined data from 2016 and 2017 revealed that the rate of 26.1% in Mississippi was the highest rate of the state, higher than the national rate of 15.8%.
Mississippi was the only state to show a statistically higher rate than the national average, the researchers noted in the brief. Other states with higher rates, but not statistically significant, were:
- Alabama to 18.2%
- DC at 16.1%
- Delaware at 16.7%
- Florida at 16.9%
- Georgia at 18.4%
- Iowa at 17.7%
- Illinois at 16.2%
- Indiana at 17.5%
- Kentucky at 19.3%
- Louisiana to 19.1%
- Michigan at 17.3%
- Ohio at 18.6%
- Oklahoma to 18.7%
- Pennsylvania at 16.8%
- Rhode Island at 16.8%
- Texas at 18.5%
- West Virginia at 20.3%
Whereas eight states – Colorado at 10.7%, Connecticut at 11.9%, Minnesota at 10.4%, New Hampshire at 9.8%, Oregon at 11.4%, Utah at 8.7%, Washington at 10.1% and Wyoming at 10.6% – had rates significantly lower than the national rate, show the combined data.
Comparing its 2016 rate only with its 2016 and 2017 combined rates, "a state that stands out this year is North Dakota, which has seen its obesity rate go down," said Bussel. "It's really encouraging."
In 2016, North Dakota had a rate of 15.8%, which fell to 12.5% in the combined data, according to the research report.
The data also showed significant differences in national rates by race and ethnicity.
"From a national perspective, more than 22% of Black youth suffer from obesity, which is actually more than 20% of Hispanic youth and over 12% of their white counterparts," said Bussel. The rate was 6.4% among young Asians and 16.3% among young people of many races.
"So I think the persistence of rate disparities is an extremely troubling factor that we need to focus on and really focus on," she said.
The study had certain limitations, including the fact that height and weight data had been self-reported by the parents, which could be skewed. In addition, the data only show rates for 2016 and 2017. Further research is needed to determine rates from previous years to track and determine trends over time.
- Congress and the current administration should maintain and strengthen nutrition support for low-income families.
- The United States Department of Agriculture should maintain the nutritional standards for school meals in effect prior to last year's changes.
- States should ensure that all students enjoy at least one hour of physical education or physical activity every school day.
- Food and beverage companies should prevent children from being exposed to advertising and marketing of unhealthy products
What's driving the state-by-state differences
She added that several factors could explain the differences between states observed in research.
"I think that part of that can be economic – states with higher poverty levels may have higher obesity rates." This can be attributed to the fact that it's difficult to The researchers also found that overall, obesity rates vary by race and ethnicity, so another explanation for the differences between states could be the variability in demographic profiles in the different states of the country, "Schwartz said.
"I live in Connecticut and I know that Connecticut is on average a high-income country.I do not think it's a coincidence that we also have lower rates of childhood obesity," he said. she said. "Until our food system undergoes greater changes so that families can more easily buy healthier food, it will remain a challenge."
"It's a real national crisis"
Today, "this forecast appears to be many years ahead of schedule." In 2015 and 2016, life expectancy declined for the first time since the civil war in the United States. Many factors have probably been implicated, including the opioid epidemic – but obesity-related diseases have been an important factor, Ludwig said.
The first generation born of the obesity epidemic is reaching the middle age. They will develop life-threatening complications – diabetes, heart disease, hepatic steatosis – at rates much higher than ever before. This has and will continue to put tremendous pressure on the health care system, cost the economy hundreds of billions of dollars and make terrible victims and shorten the life span of good health, "he said. -he declares." It's a real national crisis. "
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