Childhood Obesity Prevalence Dropping In Massachusetts

Childhood Obesity Prevalence Dropping In Massachusetts

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 24 Apr 2012 - 13:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions   <!-- rate article

Patient / Public:

Healthcare Prof:

Obesity rates among children in Eastern Massachusetts dropped from 1999-2008, a trend which may be occurring in many other parts of the country, researchers from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reported in the journal Pediatrics. However, the authors added that obesity prevalence in childhood in lower-income households has not reduced.

Dr. Xiaozhong Wen and team set out to find out what was happening to obesity rates among US kids aged up to six years.

They gathered information on 108,762 well-child visits at pediatric units in Eastern Massachusetts between 1999 and 2008. A total of 36,827 kids were involved in the study.

The researchers used CDC 2000 gender-specific growth charts to determine which children were classed as obese.

Estimates were made for gender-specific obesity trends during 1999-2003 and 2004-2008. The investigators made adjustments for health insurance, race, ethnicity, practice site, and age group.

They found that from 1999 to 2003, obesity rates remained pretty much the same for both sexes. However, from 2004 to 2008 rates dropped significantly among both males and females.

The drop in obesity prevalence during the 2004-2008 period was much more noticeable among kids who were insured by non-Medicaid health plans, compared to those insured by Medicaid.

Obesity rates among preschoolers appears to be falling in many parts of the USA

In an abstract in the same journal, the authors concluded:

"Among children aged

Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations

"Decreasing Prevalence of Obesity Among Young Children in Massachusetts From 2004 to 2008"
Xiaozhong Wen, MD, PhD, Matthew W. Gillman, MD, SM,Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman, MPH, Bettylou Sherry, PhD, RD, Ken Kleinman, ScD, and Elsie M. Taveras, MD, MPH
Pediatrics, April 23, 2012. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-1833 Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

---

APA

---

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

---

Add Your Opinion On This Article

'Childhood Obesity Prevalence Dropping In Massachusetts'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions

MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.