New Obesity Study Out Shows The Problem Worse Than Ever

Trust for America's Health "F as is Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing America" report has been released and it shows the obesity epidemic worsening since the release of the same report two years ago. 47 of 50 states now have 25% or more of their children (10-17 yr old) classified as overweight or obese defined as Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 85% BMI percentile and 95%, respectively. The state with the highest percentage of overweight and obese children, Mississippi, has a rate of 44.4% and Utah and Minnesota came in tied for the lowests rate with 23.1%.

That means that in the state with the lowest rate, almost 1 out of 4 children are either overweight or obese! And in the Mississippi that rate is almost 1 out of 2.

Check out where you state ranks on page 12 of the report.

Trust for America's Health reminds us how big a problem this epidemic really is and how it threatens to affect the future of all our children.

While shocking, these numbers are nothing new, but the study does reveal some interesting findings. It shows that children are more likely to gain weight during the summertime, two to three times faster than when they are in school. The study attributes this "summer slide" to higher caloric intake outside of school and decreased physical activity when not in school.

This might be hard to believe since we think of the summertime as a time when kids are outside playing, but this study suggests that children participate in less physical activity during the summer than they do during the school year.

Such a finding makes clear the need for schools and communities to provide summer physical activity programming so that children do not return to school heavier. Making the school gym, playground or local park available for supervised use will give kids an opportunity for being physically active. Especially for those who may not be able to afford summer camp.

The study also showed that the largest proportion of low-nutrient, energy-dense foods is
consumed at home, not school. While not surprising, it found that "children ate or drank the most calories at locations away from home and school, including restaurants, corner stores, after school clubs, and ice-cream trucks".

This makes the case that we as parents, educators and community members must provide our children will healthier food options. We have to make energy-dense foods less available and encourage our children to consume less energy-dense foods with a higher nutritious value. This starts in the home since what we keep in the cabinet is the most accessible, but extends to restaurants and corner stores. As consumers we have to request healthier options at the local corner store or restaurant so that when our children opt for the healthy option it is actually available.