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Obesity

	More info on Obesity Case Study: Is obesity a  problem? Is it changing over time? Where is the problem? Who is affected? Is it changing among specific groups over time?

Introduction

Data from the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) can be used to monitor the prevalence of obesity among children participating in public health programs. Using PedNSS data for the 2001 reporting year from a state WIC (Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) program, an epidemiological approach will be used to describe the prevalence of obesity in terms of time, place, and person by answering the following questions:

• What: Is obesity a  problem?
• When: Is it changing over time?
• Where: Where is the problem?
• Who: Who is affected?
• Who and When: Is it changing among specific groups over time?

When using an epidemiologic approach, it is important to assess data quality before analyzing the data. For this example, assume that data quality is acceptable. The next step is to determine the extent of the health problem in the state WIC Program using PedNSS data tables.

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Page last reviewed: October 29, 2009
Page last updated: October 29, 2009
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

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National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity