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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWho is to blame for this? - Michelle Obama
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.
The drop emerged from a major federal health survey that experts say is the gold standard for evidence on what Americans weigh. The trend came as a welcome surprise to researchers. New evidence has shown that obesity takes hold young: Children who are overweight or obese at 3 to 5 years old are five times as likely to be overweight or obese as adults.
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Barry M. Popkin, a researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who has tracked American food purchases in a large data project, said families with children had been buying lower-calorie foods over the past decade, a pattern he said was unrelated to the economic downturn.
He credited those habits, and changes in the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, for the decline in obesity among young children. The program, which subsidizes food for low-income women, reduced funding for fruit juices, cheese and eggs and increased it for whole fruits and vegetables.
Another possible explanation is that some combination of state, local and federal policies aimed at reducing obesity is starting to make a difference. Michelle Obama, the first lady, has led a push to change young childrens eating and exercise habits and 10,000 child care centers across the country have signed on. The news announcement from the C.D.C. included a remark from Mrs. Obama: I am thrilled at the progress weve made over the last few years in obesity rates among our youngest Americans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/26/health/obesity-rate-for-young-children-plummets-43-in-a-decade.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20140226&_r=0
MADem
(135,425 posts)SmittynMo
(3,544 posts)Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2014, 02:19 PM - Edit history (1)
Blame is not the right term. She should get full credit for this. No one else.
And then of course, yesterday, Rush Oxycontin, cut her down big time, indicating she was dictating what we should, or should not put in our mouths. What an asshole!!!!. Boy that hatred for the black white house couple comes out every time in these racists.
Michelle was educating the American public. Things like 99% of commercials on TV push crap food, that contributes towards obesity. Only 1% push items like water, fruits, vegetables,etc. You know, healthy food. WOW.
She has been more instrumental in educating this country than any FLOTUS in my life time. I vote for her as the #1 FLOTUS.
I am so proud of her and her contributions towards this country. You go girl!!!
liberal N proud
(60,349 posts)As the right continues to blame them for everything, I believe this actually does give credit to her efforts.
needledriver
(836 posts)What does FLOUTUS mean?
SmittynMo
(3,544 posts)karadax
(284 posts)Let's Move! started in February 2010 so it's not even a full 4 years old. The survey spans a decade.
We should applaud state and local municipalities that jumped on this from the start. That's where progress truly begins.
busterbrown
(8,515 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)malaise
(269,244 posts)They said parents had the right to let their children eat themselves to death