The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report this week saying 1 out of every 5 children is obese.

Based on the report, 17.5 percent of children and teens between the ages of 3 and 19 are obese, a drastic jump from obesity rates in the 1970s, which were pegged at 5.6 percent. However, the researchers also discovered that the prevalence of obesity during childhood had leveled off within the last 10 years, with an increase of just 0.9 percent since the study was carried out from 2001 to 2004.

Talking to Live Science, Michael Goran, director of the University of Southern California's Childhood Obesity Research Center and who was not involved in the CDC's report, however, said that the new report is not an accurate portrayal of rates of obesity in the United States. According to him, overall obesity rates may have not changed but some groups are showing drops in obesity rates while others are experiencing spikes.

In low-income communities, for instance, specifically those made up of a lot of African-Americans and Hispanics, obesity rates continue to rise. Goran pointed out then that since prevalence is higher in low-income populations, their particular environments must have something to do with the rise in obesity rates.

One of the major contributing factors to obesity is sugar consumption. With kids from low-income populations introduced to sugary foods and beverages early, they are likelier to consume more as they grow up, which leads them to become obese. As habits are ingrained during childhood, the report also said that obese children are also significantly likelier to be obese adults.

This why Goran said that addressing obesity should begin as early as possible. For instance, parents can help reduce their children's overall obesity risk by removing sugar in their kids' diets as much as possible. He also said extended breast-feeding can help, with children breast-fed for over 12 months receiving substantial protection.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also released guidelines that parents can follow. Some of the tips provided include ensuring children are getting enough rest and limiting screen time.

The CDC report also compared [pdf] obesity rates in the U.S. to those of Canada's and saw that obesity rates have also risen for Canadians. However, only 13 percent of children from the same age range are considered obese.

Photo: Tim Pierce | Flickr