Obesity rate for young children falls 43 percent

Feb 27 2014

The study by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention reported the decline among 2- to 5-year-old children -- the first significant drop ever reported. Rates for the broader population remain unchanged, however.

The New York Times: Obesity Rate For Young Children Plummets 43% In A Decade
Federal health authorities on Tuesday reported a 43 percent drop in the obesity rate among 2- to 5-year-old children over the past decade, the first broad decline in an epidemic that often leads to lifelong struggles with weight and higher risks for cancer, heart disease and stroke (Tavernise, 2/26). 

The Washington Post: New CDC Data Shows 43 Percent Drop In Obesity Rates Among Children 2 To 5
The finding comes from a government study considered a gold standard to measure public-health trends. Researchers found that just over 8 percent of children 2 to 5 were obese in 2011-2012, down from nearly 14 percent in 2003-2004. Although the drop was significant, federal health officials noted that obesity rates for the broader population remain unchanged, and for women older than 60, obesity rates rose about 21 percent during that period (Sun, 2/26).