Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Childhood: Data: Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children | DNPAO

Overweight and Obesity

Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children 1998–2008

One of 7 low-income, preschool-aged children is obese, but the obesity epidemic may be stabilizing. The prevalence of obesity in low-income two to four year-olds increased from 12.4 percent in 1998 to 14.5 percent in 2003 but rose to only 14.6 percent in 2008.

American Indians and Alaska Natives are the only race or ethnic groups with increasing rates between 2003 and 2008. Obesity prevalence among these children continued to rise about a half percentage point each year from 2003 to 2008.

In 2008, obesity prevalence was highest among American Indian or Alaska Native (21.2 percent) and Hispanic (18.5 percent) children, and lowest among white (12.6 percent), Asian or Pacific Islander (12.3 percent), and black (11.8 percent) children.

In 2008, only Colorado and Hawaii reported 10 percent or less of low-income preschool-age children were obese. The only gruop with rates over 20 percent were Indian Tribal Organizations.

For this study analysis, CDC analyzed the 1998−2008 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) data. The study defined obesity as a body mass index-for-age at or above the 95th percentile based on the 2000 sex-specific growth charts.

For more, see Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children — United States, 1998–2008
Also available in a PDF version (PDF-1.3Mb).

Geographic Patterns

County-level data demonstrate the geographic variability of obesity within a state. In general, obesity prevalence is highest in western and southern California, southern Texas, the central and north eastern seaboard, and some Appalachian states. Nearly all counties touching the Pacific Ocean have prevalences above 15%, whereas many of the counties in the Rocky Mountains have prevalences below 10%.

County-specific rates show a considerable range of obesity prevalence, from <5% in some counties of Colorado and Nevada to >20% in other counties.

Obesity rates were found to be highest in Indian tribal organizations, in western and southern California, southern Texas, the central and north eastern seaboard, some Appalachian states, and in counties touching the Pacific Ocean. Several counties in the Rocky Mountains have prevalences below 10%.

Obesity rates for Territories and Indian Tribal Organizations are cited below.

data table showing Cheyenne River Sioux (SD) at 15-20%, District of Columbia at 10-15%, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona at greater than 20%, Navajo Nation at 15-20%, Puerto Rico at 15-20%, Rosebud Sioux (SD) at greater than 20%, Standing Rock Sioux (SD) at greater than 20%, Three Affiliated Tribes at greater than 20%, Virgin Islands at 5-10%

This study analysis is based on CDC's Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS).

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