A new study shows a troubling surge in severe obesity among US children, despite a previous positive outlook on reported declining rates.
In 2010, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program targeting low-income infants recorded a severe obesity rate of 2.1%. In 2016, the number dropped to 1.8%, but it went up again to 2% in 2020, equivalent to 33,000 of the 1.6 million US children. as reported by the New York Post.
According to the research published in Pediatrics journal, 20 US states reported the largest increases, with California leading the way at 2.8%, according to the survey. Concerningly, Hispanic infants had the greatest incidence rate at 2.8%.
A child sits on the gym floor during the Shapedown program for overweight adolescents and children on November 13, 2010 in Aurora, Colorado.
The increasing prevalence of severe obesity among young children has alarmed Heidi Blanck of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. She emphasized the critical nature of addressing this health concern.
"We were doing well, and now we see this upward trend. We are dismayed at seeing these findings," Blanck, who heads the CDC's Obesity Prevention and Control Branch, said, as quoted by US News & World Report.
Program Needs Further Support
According to experts, severely obese children are at increased risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and premature death In 2019, WIC provided nutrition education and nutritious food for low-income pregnant women and mothers of children under five years of age, significantly benefiting more than 20% of children in the United States.
Despite 2009 program modifications that increased monetary allowances for fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and decreased milk, cheese, and juice allowances, severe obesity increased. While these alterations have proven effective in enhancing the diets of WIC-enrolled kids in other studies, researchers noted that the program's effectiveness varies across states.
Dr. Sarah Armstrong, a childhood obesity researcher at Duke University in Durham, N.C., cited the intensified daily hardships faced by families in poverty, suggesting that the slight enhancements in the WIC package over the past decade were insufficient to combat the challenges.
A Serious Public Health Concern
Several reasons might cause excessive weight gain in children and adults per health experts. These factors include genetics, food and beverage intake, physical activity, time spent in sedentary activities like watching TV, using a computer, or using a phone, sleep patterns, medical conditions or medications, and environment. This includes healthy food availability, affordability, and safe exercise spaces.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), different development rates make it hard to tell whether a child is overweight. A healthcare professional may evaluate a child's body mass index, growth, and health to identify overweight.
Deanna Hoelscher, a childhood obesity researcher at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, commended a study despite its limitations, describing it as "very well done" and offering valuable insights into ongoing trends.
While the study does not provide information on developments post-2020, smaller studies have suggested a potential surge in childhood obesity, especially during the pandemic, marked by disrupted routines and reduced physical activity due to school closures. Hoelscher expressed concerns, stating that the situation is expected to worsen.
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