Obesity Among Young Children Enrolled in WIC
Obesity affects children from families with low incomes more than children from families with higher income. Children in families with low incomes are often served by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
CDC works with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to monitor childhood obesity and identify priority groups and areas that need attention. USDA manages the WIC program at national and regional levels.
CDC and USDA analyze data from the WIC Participant and Program Characteristics Reportexternal icon (WIC PC). USDA conducts a biennial census in April of even years to collect data for this report. The WIC PC summarizes the demographic characteristics of WIC participants nationwide and includes information on nutrition risk characteristics such as weight status.
What Is WIC?
WIC is a federal program that promotes healthy eating and nutrition education for infants and children up to age 5 and for women with low incomes who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding.
Nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood is critical for healthy child growth and development. To be eligible for WICexternal icon, women, infants, and children must meet residential, income, and nutrition risk requirements.
Data Show Modest Decline in Obesity Among Young Children Enrolled in WIC
CDC and USDA analyzed WIC data from 56 US states and territories between 2010 and 2018. During this time, 31 WIC agencies reported significant declines in obesity among children aged 2 to 4 years. The prevalence of obesity reported in 2018 ranged from 8.5% to 20.2%.
Other findings included:
- Obesity went down by more than 3% in New Jersey, Utah, Virginia, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.
- Obesity went up significantly in Alabama (0.6%), Hawaii (1.1%), New Hampshire (1.9%), North Carolina (1.6%), West Virginia (2.1%), and the US Virgin Islands (2.7%).
Tip: When discussing topics like obesity and other chronic diseases, use person-first language (e.g., children with obesity) as well as respectful images. More information can be found here: Guidelines for Media Portrayals of Individuals Affected by Obesityexternal icon.
| 2010 | 2018 | 2010 to 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | No. | Crude Prevalence % (95% CI) |
No. | Crude Prevalence % (95% CI) |
Adjusted Prevalence Differenceb (95% CI) |
| Alabamac | 45,743 | 15.8 (15.5, 16.2) | 38,400 | 16.2 (15.8, 16.6) | 0.6 (0.1, 1.1) |
| Alaskac | 10,108 | 21.2 (20.4, 22.0) | 5,353 | 20.2 (19.2, 21.3) | -1.3 (-2.6, 0.0) |
| Arizonac | 72,933 | 15.0 (14.8, 15.3) | 57,769 | 12.5 (12.2, 12.7) | -2.2 (-2.6, -1.8) |
| Arkansasc | 31,245 | 14.8 (14.4, 15.2) | 21,377 | 13.1 (12.7, 13.6) | -1.5 (-2.1, -0.9) |
| Californiac | 583,008 | 18.4 (18.3, 18.5) | 425,732 | 15.8 (15.7, 15.9) | -2.2 (-2.3, -2.0) |
| Coloradoc | 39,612 | 9.6 (9.3, 9.8) | 30,642 | 8.6 (8.3, 8.9) | -0.7 (-1.1, -0.3) |
| Connecticutc | 22,988 | 17.1 (16.6, 17.6) | 17,937 | 14.5 (14.0, 15.0) | -2.7 (-3.4, -1.9) |
| Delaware | 7,650 | 18.4 (17.5, 19.2) | 5,870 | 16.3 (15.4, 17.3) | -0.9 (-2.2, 0.4) |
| District of Columbia | 5,182 | 14.4 (13.5, 15.4) | 4,174 | 12.8 (11.8, 13.8) | -1.0 (-2.4, 0.3) |
| Floridac | 194,924 | 14.6 (14.4, 14.7) | 179,667 | 13.3 (13.2, 13.5) | -1.3 (-1.5, -1.1) |
| Georgiac | 104,959 | 14.4 (14.2, 14.6) | 68,537 | 13.6 (13.4, 13.9) | -0.5 (-0.8, -0.2) |
| Hawaiic | 14,504 | 9.7 (9.3, 10.2) | 10,871 | 10.7 (10.1, 11.2) | 1.1 (0.3, 1.9) |
| Idaho | 18,704 | 11.9 (11.5, 12.4) | 13,225 | 12.0 (11.5, 12.6) | 0.2 (-0.5, 0.9) |
| Illinois | 108,762 | 15.7 (15.5, 15.9) | 69,573 | 15.2 (15.0, 15.5) | 0.2 (-0.2, 0.5) |
| Indianac | 63,220 | 15.1 (14.8, 15.4) | 53,403 | 13.5 (13.2, 13.8) | -1.3 (-1.7, -0.9) |
| Iowa | 29,481 | 15.6 (15.2, 16.0) | 23,331 | 15.6 (15.1, 16.1) | 0.4 (-0.3, 1.0) |
| Kansas | 30,458 | 13.7 (13.4, 14.1) | 21,050 | 13.7 (13.2, 14.1) | 0.1 (-0.5, 0.7) |
| Kentuckyc | 45,761 | 18.2 (17.9, 18.6) | 34,628 | 16.3 (15.9, 16.7) | -1.8 (-2.3, -1.3) |
| Louisianac | 48,145 | 13.8 (13.5, 14.1) | 32,050 | 13.0 (12.7, 13.4) | -1.0 (-1.5, -0.6) |
| Maine | 10,410 | 15.2 (14.6, 15.9) | 7,247 | 14.6 (13.8, 15.4) | -0.6 (-1.7, 0.5) |
| Marylandc | 51,280 | 17.1 (16.8, 17.4) | 47,153 | 16.4 (16.0, 16.7) | -0.6 (-1.1, -0.2) |
| Massachusettsc | 49,178 | 17.1 (16.8, 17.5) | 37,993 | 16.3 (15.9, 16.7) | -1.4 (-1.9, -0.9) |
| Michigan | 85,293 | 14.4 (14.2, 14.6) | 76,573 | 13.7 (13.4, 13.9) | -0.3 (-0.6, 0.0) |
| Minnesota | 57,529 | 12.7 (12.4, 13.0) | 43,399 | 12.5 (12.2, 12.8) | -0.3 (-0.7, 0.1) |
| Mississippi | 36,519 | 14.9 (14.6, 15.3) | 29,651 | 14.8 (14.4, 15.2) | -0.3 (-0.8, 0.3) |
| Missouric | 50,575 | 14.4 (14.1, 14.8) | 36,127 | 13.0 (12.7, 13.4) | -1.3 (-1.8, -0.9) |
| Montanac | 7,194 | 13.4 (12.6, 14.2) | 6,491 | 11.9 (11.1, 12.7) | -1.7 (-2.8, -0.6) |
| Nebraska | 15,622 | 14.4 (13.8, 14.9) | 12,828 | 14.7 (14.1, 15.3) | 0.3 (-0.5, 1.2) |
| Nevadac | 25,855 | 15.0 (14.6, 15.5) | 24,429 | 11.7 (11.3, 12.1) | -2.4 (-3.0, -1.8) |
| New Hampshirec | 7,263 | 15.0 (14.1, 15.8) | 5,357 | 17.2 (16.2, 18.2) | 1.9 (0.6, 3.2) |
| New Jerseyc | 59,000 | 18.9 (18.6, 19.2) | 46,668 | 14.9 (14.5, 15.2) | -4.0 (-4.5, -3.6) |
| New Mexicoc | 21,968 | 15.7 (15.2, 16.1) | 16,505 | 13.0 (12.5, 13.6) | -2.7 (-3.4, -2.0) |
| New Yorkc | 186,760 | 16.1 (16.0, 16.3) | 164,822 | 14.0 (13.8, 14.2) | -1.6 (-1.8, -1.3) |
| North Carolinac | 89,798 | 13.9 (13.6, 14.1) | 88,963 | 15.0 (14.8, 15.3) | 1.6 (1.3, 1.9) |
| North Dakota | 5,484 | 14.5 (13.5, 15.4) | 4,560 | 15.4 (14.4, 16.5) | 1.4 (-0.1, 2.8) |
| Ohio | 102,803 | 12.6 (12.4, 12.8) | 66,169 | 12.6 (12.3, 12.9) | -0.1 (-0.4, 0.3) |
| Oklahomac | 37,849 | 15.4 (15.1, 15.8) | 29,940 | 13.8 (13.4, 14.2) | -1.5 (-2.1, -1.0) |
| Oregonc | 43,209 | 15.8 (15.5, 16.2) | 33,899 | 14.6 (14.3, 15.0) | -0.9 (-1.4, -0.4) |
| Pennsylvania | 96,762 | 12.8 (12.6, 13.1) | 74,206 | 12.8 (12.6, 13.0) | 0.1 (-0.2, 0.4) |
| Rhode Island | 10,783 | 16.4 (15.7, 17.1) | 7,028 | 17.1 (16.3, 18.0) | 0.4 (-0.7, 1.6) |
| South Carolina | 39,785 | 13.3 (13.0, 13.7) | 26,589 | 12.7 (12.3, 13.1) | -0.4 (-0.9, 0.1) |
| South Dakotac | 7,884 | 17.3 (16.5, 18.1) | 6,269 | 16.0 (15.1, 16.9) | -2.1 (-3.4, -0.9) |
| Tennesseec | 57,153 | 16.0 (15.7, 16.3) | 44,025 | 15.2 (14.9, 15.5) | -0.6 (-1.1, -0.2) |
| Texasc | 361,823 | 16.9 (16.8, 17.0) | 228,987 | 15.9 (15.7, 16.0) | -0.5 (-0.7, -0.3) |
| Utahc | 26,045 | 12.5 (12.1, 12.9) | 18,455 | 8.5 (8.1, 8.9) | -4.0 (-4.5, -3.4) |
| Vermont | 6,964 | 13.8 (13.0, 14.7) | 4,761 | 12.9 (11.9, 13.8) | -1.1 (-2.3, 0.2) |
| Virginiac | 48,920 | 21.5 (21.2, 21.9) | 39,404 | 15.8 (15.5, 16.2) | -5.3 (-5.9, -4.8) |
| Washingtonc | 78,336 | 14.9 (14.6, 15.1) | 61,000 | 13.8 (13.6, 14.1) | -1.0 (-1.4, -0.6) |
| West Virginiac | 17,669 | 14.4 (13.9, 14.9) | 12,289 | 16.5 (15.9, 17.2) | 2.1 (1.3, 3.0) |
| Wisconsinc | 48,511 | 15.2 (14.9, 15.5) | 35,043 | 14.4 (14.0, 14.7) | -0.6 (-1.1, -0.1) |
| Wyoming | 4,413 | 11.8 (10.9, 12.8) | 3,231 | 10.6 (9.5, 11.6) | -1.3 (-2.7, 0.1) |
| Territory | |||||
| American Samoa | 3,221 | 14.6 (13.4, 15.8) | 2,590 | 14.0 (12.7, 15.4) | -0.6 (-2.4, 1.2) |
| Guamc | 3,248 | 11.4 (10.3, 12.5) | 3,036 | 8.5 (7.5, 9.5) | -3.0 (-4.4, -1.5) |
| Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islandsc | 2,157 | 14.1 (12.6, 15.6) | 1,569 | 8.7 (7.3, 10.1) | -5.4 (-7.5, -3.4) |
| Puerto Ricoc | 70,699 | 20.3 (20.0, 20.6) | 44,857 | 12.6 (12.3, 12.9) | -7.5 (-7.9, -7.1) |
| US Virgin Islandsc | 2,093 | 12.4 (11.0, 13.8) | 1,094 | 15.1 (13.0, 17.2) | 2.7 (0.2, 5.2) |
| Abbreviation: WIC, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.
a Obesity is defined as BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex on CDC growth charts. Biologically implausible values for weight, height, and BMI were identified and excluded according to their modified z-score. See www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/growthcharts/resources/sas.htm. b Represents the average marginal effect of year (2018 vs. 2010) as calculated by R’s “margins” package controlling for sex, age, and race or ethnicity. Children with missing information on race or ethnicity were excluded. A negative value indicates that the prevalence decreased. c Statistically significant difference at the 0.05 level between prevalences in 2010 and 2018 according to logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, and race or ethnicity. |
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National Trends in Obesity Among Young Children Enrolled in WIC
National obesity trends from 2010 to 2018 among children aged 2 to 4 years from families enrolled in WIC showed the following:
- In 2018, 14.4% of WIC participants aged 2 to 4 years had obesity. That was a drop from 15.9% in 2010.
- The prevalence of overweight and obesity combined went down from 32.5% in 2010 to 29.7% in 2018.
- The largest drops were among 4-year-olds, boys, and children who were Asian or Pacific Islander.
- The prevalence of obesity in 2018 was higher among young children who were Hispanic (17.2%) and American Indian or Alaska Native (18.8%) than among those who were non-Hispanic White (12.4%), non-Hispanic Black (11.8%), or Asian or Pacific Islander (10.4%).
| Crude Prevalence, %a (95% CI) | 2010 to 2018 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | Adjusted Prevalence Differenceb (95% CI) |
|
| Overweight or Obesity (BMI at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex on CDC growth charts) | ||||||
| Overall | 32.5 (32.5, 32.6) | 31.2 (31.1, 31.2) | 30.2 (30.1, 30.2) | 29.1 (29.1, 29.2) | 29.7 (29.6, 29.7) | -2.4 (-2.5, -2.3) |
| Age in years | ||||||
| 2 | 30.2 (30.2, 30.3) | 28.6 (28.5, 28.7) | 27.5 (27.5, 27.6) | 27.1 (27.0, 27.2) | 27.6 (27.5, 27.7) | -2.3 (-2.4, -2.2) |
| 3 | 33.4 (33.3, 33.4) | 32.0 (31.9, 32.1) | 31.1 (31.1, 31.2) | 29.7 (29.7, 29.8) | 30.5 (30.4, 30.6) | -2.5 (-2.6, -2.4) |
| 4 | 35.2 (35.1, 35.3) | 33.9 (33.8, 34.0) | 33.2 (33.1, 33.3) | 31.7 (31.5, 31.8) | 32.1 (32.0, 32.2) | -2.6 (-2.8, -2.5) |
| Sex | ||||||
| Boys | 33.5 (33.4, 33.6) | 31.8 (31.8, 31.9) | 30.9 (30.8, 31.0) | 29.6 (29.5, 29.6) | 30.1 (30.1, 30.2) | -3.0 (-3.1, -2.9) |
| Girls | 31.5 (31.5, 31.6) | 30.5 (30.4, 30.5) | 29.5 (29.4, 29.6) | 28.6 (28.6, 28.7) | 29.2 (29.1, 29.3) | -1.9 (-2.0, -1.7) |
| Race or Ethnicity | ||||||
| Non-Hispanic White | 28.8 (28.7, 28.9) | 27.8 (27.7, 27.9) | 27.7 (27.6, 27.8) | 27.4 (27.3, 27.5) | 27.8 (27.7, 27.9) | -0.9 (-1.1, -0.8) |
| Non-Hispanic Black | 27.3 (27.2, 27.4) | 26.3 (26.2, 26.4) | 25.9 (25.8, 26.0) | 25.0 (24.9, 25.1) | 25.6 (25.5, 25.7) | -1.6 (-1.8, -1.4) |
| Hispanic | 37.2 (37.1, 37.3) | 35.5 (35.4, 35.6) | 34.0 (33.9, 34.1) | 32.6 (32.5, 32.6) | 33.4 (33.3, 33.5) | -3.6 (-3.7, -3.4) |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 40.3 (39.8, 40.8) | 37.5 (37.0, 37.9) | 36.2 (35.7, 36.7) | 36.7 (36.2, 37.2) | 36.7 (36.2, 37.3) | -3.4 (-4.1, -2.7) |
| Asian or Pacific Islander | 26.6 (26.4, 26.9) | 25.2 (25.0, 25.5) | 24.2 (24.0, 24.4) | 22.4 (22.1, 22.6) | 22.8 (22.5, 23.0) | -3.7 (-4.1, -3.4) |
| Abbreviation: WIC, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index. a Biologically implausible values for weight, height, and BMI were identified and excluded according to their modified z-score. See www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/growthcharts/resources/sas.htm. b Represents the average marginal effect of year (2018 vs. 2010) as calculated by R’s “margins” package controlling for sex, age, and race or ethnicity. Children with missing information on race or ethnicity were excluded. P < 0.05 between prevalences in 2010 and 2018 based on logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, and race or ethnicity. |
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| Crude Prevalence,%a (95% CI) | 2010 to 2018 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | Adjusted Prevalence Differenceb (95% CI) |
|
| Obesity (BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex on CDC growth charts) | ||||||
| Overall | 15.9 (15.9, 16.0) | 15.2 (15.1, 15.2) | 14.5 (14.5, 14.6) | 13.9 (13.9, 13.9) | 14.4 (14.3, 14.4) | -1.2 (-1.3, -1.2) |
| Age in years | ||||||
| 2 | 14.1 (14.0, 14.1) | 13.2 (13.1, 13.3) | 12.5 (12.4, 12.5) | 12.3 (12.2, 12.3) | 12.6 (12.6, 12.7) | -1.2 (-1.3, -1.1) |
| 3 | 16.6 (16.6, 16.7) | 15.9 (15.8, 15.9) | 15.4 (15.3, 15.4) | 14.5 (14.5, 14.6) | 15.1 (15.1, 15.2) | -1.3 (-1.4, -1.2) |
| 4 | 17.9 (17.8, 18.0) | 17.2 (17.1, 17.3) | 16.8 (16.7, 16.9) | 15.8 (15.7, 15.9) | 16.2 (16.1, 16.3) | -1.4 (-1.5, -1.2) |
| Sex | ||||||
| Boys | 16.8 (16.7, 16.9) | 15.9 (15.8, 15.9) | 15.2 (15.1, 15.2) | 14.4 (14.3, 14.5) | 14.9 (14.8, 15.0) | -1.6 (-1.7, -1.5) |
| Girls | 15.0 (14.9, 15.1) | 14.4 (14.4, 14.5) | 13.9 (13.8, 14.0) | 13.4 (13.3, 13.4) | 13.8 (13.8, 13.9) | -0.9 (-1.0, -0.8) |
| Race or Ethnicity | ||||||
| Non-Hispanic White | 12.8 (12.7, 12.9) | 12.4 (12.3, 12.4) | 12.2 (12.2, 12.3) | 12.1 (12.0, 12.2) | 12.4 (12.3, 12.5) | -0.4 (-0.5, -0.3) |
| Non-Hispanic Black | 12.7 (12.6, 12.8) | 12.1 (12.0, 12.2) | 11.9 (11.8, 11.9) | 11.4 (11.3, 11.5) | 11.8 (11.7, 11.9) | -0.8 (-0.9, -0.7) |
| Hispanic | 19.3 (19.2, 19.3) | 18.3 (18.2, 18.3) | 17.3 (17.3, 17.4) | 16.4 (16.4, 16.5) | 17.2 (17.1, 17.2) | -1.9 (-2.0, -1.8) |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 20.9 (20.5, 21.3) | 18.9 (18.5, 19.2) | 18.0 (17.6, 18.3) | 18.5 (18.1, 18.9) | 18.8 (18.3, 19.2) | -2.1 (-2.6, -1.5) |
| Asian or Pacific Islander | 12.5 (12.3, 12.6) | 11.7 (11.5, 11.9) | 11.1 (10.9, 11.3) | 10.0 (9.9, 10.2) | 10.4 (10.3, 10.6) | -1.9 (-2.2, -1.7) |
| Abbreviation: WIC, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.
a Biologically implausible values for weight, height, and BMI were identified and excluded according to their modified z-score. See www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/growthcharts/resources/sas.htm. b Represents the average marginal effect of year (2018 vs. 2010) as calculated by R’s “margins” package controlling for sex, age, and race or ethnicity. Children with missing information on race or ethnicity were excluded. P < 0.05 for prevalences in 2010 and 2018 based on logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, and race or ethnicity. |
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High Weight–for–Length Among Infants Enrolled in WIC Declined From 2010 to 2018
Infants with high weight for their length are at increased risk of obesity in childhood and early adulthood.
A study published in 2021 external iconfound that, overall, the prevalence of infants aged 3 to 23 months enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) who had high weight–for–length decreased from 14.5% in 2010 to 12.3% in 2014 and then remained stable until 2018 (12.2%). From 2010 to 2018, 33 US states and territories reported a significant drop in high weight–for–length among infants in this age group; 38 states and territories had a significant decline from 2010 to 2014 and 12 states and territories had a significant decline from 2014 to 2018.
For state– and territory–specific information, see Data, Trends, and Maps. Select “WIC 3–23 month olds who have high weight–for–length ” as the indicator.
The study reported the following:
- High weight–for–length varied across racial and ethnic groups. In 2018, prevalence was the highest among American Indian or Alaska Native infants (16.1%) and the lowest among Asian or Pacific Islander infants (8.5%).
- Adjusted absolute prevalence differences between 2010 and 2018:
- By age group, the decrease ranged from 1.5% for infants aged 6 to 11 months to 2.0% for infants aged 3 to 5 months and 12 to 17 months.
- By sex, the decrease was 2.0% among boys and 1.7% among girls.
- By race and ethnicity, the decrease ranged from 0.8% for non–Hispanic White infants to 2.7% for Hispanic infants.
For state– and territory–specific infant information, see Data, Trends, and Maps. Select “WIC 3–23 month olds who have high weight–for–length ” as the indicator.
Related Information
- Childhood obesity
- Early care and education
- Breastfeeding: Why it matters
- Healthcare strategies
- Tips to help children maintain a healthy weight
- Data, Trends, and Maps interactive database with three indicators for WIC-enrolled young children.
