Some good news: childhood obesity declines in low-income children–a bit

The CDC and USDA are collaborating to track the prevalence of obesity in children ages 2 – 4 who participate in the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

In a new report, the agencies find obesity prevalence to have increased from 14% in 2000 to 15.9% in 2010.   But here’s the good news:  it dropped to 14.5% in 2014.

More good news: it decreased significantly among toddlers in these groups:

• Non-Hispanic whites
• Non-Hispanic blacks
• Hispanics
• American Indian/Alaska Natives and Asians/Pacific Islanders
• 61% of the 56 agencies in states, DC, and US territories

The not-so-good news is that obesity in WIC kids is still higher than the national average among kids 2 – 5 years (8.9%), but this trend is in the right direction.

What accounts for it?  The report lists several possibilities:

• Revision of the WIC package in 2009 to align with Dietary Guidelines and infant feeding guidelines from the Pediatric Academy.
• Local, state, and national obesity initiatives
• Let’s Move
• The White House Childhood Obesity Task Force report
• Institute of Medicine recommendations

Let’s keep doing more of the same and keep that trend heading downward.