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Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

Child Obesity Rates Drop 43% in Past Decade

Author:     LIZ SZABO
Source:     USA TODAY
Publication Date:     6:14 p.m. EST February 25, 2014
 Link: Child Obesity Rates Drop 43% in Past Decade
Stephan:   Here -- potentially -- is some good news about obesity in little children: it seems to be significantly on decline. It is not evenly spread through the country, Red value states still have more obese children proportionally than Blue value states but, overall, things are looking better, although not in older children. I think a lot of this is due to the publicity created by Michelle Obama that mothers have listened to and integrated.. But it is going to take studies that replicate this effect to be sure it is for real.

With so little good news about obesity in the USA, public health advocates are celebrating a rare victory: a sharp decline in obesity rates among young children.

The problem of childhood obesity has gotten a national platform in recent years, through first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign. Obama has even appeared with Elmo and Big Bird on Sesame Street to talk about nutrition and exercise.

Today, with the release of new obesity numbers, Obama suggests that her preschool audience has taken her advice to heart.

While obesity rates for most Americans haven’t changed significantly over the past decade, among kids ages 2 to 5 the obesity rate dropped from 14% in 2003-2004 to just over 8% in 2011-2012, according to a report out Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That represents a drop of 43%, CDC said.

“I am thrilled at the progress we’ve made over the last few years in obesity rates among our youngest Americans,” Obama said in a statement. “Healthier habits are beginning to become the new norm.”

STORY: CDC: Childhood obesity rates falling in many states

Also on Tuesday, Obama announced new rules to ban the marketing of unhealthy foods in schools during the school day. “Our classrooms […]

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