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How To... - Interpret Data - Case Studies -
Obesity
Is obesity a problem?
Healthy People 2010 established a target obesity prevalence
of 5 percent for children 6 to 19 years of age. Although the WIC program
serves children younger than 6 years of age, this objective is still used
to determine if obesity is a health problem in this case study since research
has shown that the tracking of obesity from childhood into adulthood
begins as early as 2 years of age.
For children 2 years or older, BMI (Body Mass Index)-for-age is used to
assess overweight. Five percent of children are expected to be above the
95th percentile of BMI-for-age, defined as obesity , due to normal
biologic variation. A prevalence greater than the expected rate of 5
percent indicates that the population has a higher proportion of
individuals with obesity than would be expected in the
general population.
In the U.S. population (NHANES III) the prevalence of obesity for
children 2 to 5 years of age is 10.4%, compared to 13% in the National PedNSS. Both are above the Healthy People 2010
target of 5% and, therefore, considered to be a public health problem. To
determine if obesity is a health problem within a state PedNSS
population, we will compare the percent of obesity from a state WIC
program to the National PedNSS prevalence, as well as the Healthy People 2010 target for
obesity and the
U.S. population.
Prevalence of Obese Children
The PedNSS Table 2C, Summary of Health Indicators, shows the
contributor's prevalence of obesity for children 2 to 5 years of age
compared to the National PedNSS. These prevalences of obesity can then
be compared to the expected rate and Healthy People 2010 target of
5 percent and the U.S. population prevalences for the same age group.
Sample: PedNSS Table 2C, Summary of Health Indicators
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The prevalence of obesity for children 2 to 5 years
of age in the state WIC Program is similar to the national PedNSS
prevalence, 12.9% and 13.0% respectively. These prevalences of
obesity are higher than the expected rate and the Healthy People
2010 target of 5 percent and the U.S. population prevalence of
10.4% for overweight children 2 to 5 years of age. |
Is obesity a problem?
The prevalence of 12.9% for obesity in the state WIC program is more
than twice the expected rate and the Healthy People 2010 target of 5
percent and greater than the prevalence of obesity of 10.4% for
children 2 to 5 years of age in the U.S. population so it is considered a
health problem.
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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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