The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Arpil 7, 2009
A study in the April Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine finds that nearly one in five American preschoolers is obese, and that the obesity rate among children from some ethnic minority populations is alarmingly higher, the Associated Press reports. To determine obesity prevalence among preschoolers, researchers at The Ohio State University College of Public Health and Temple University analyzed nationally representative height and weight data compiled in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort for over 8,500 4-year-old children.
Based on the findings, the researchers conclude that childhood obesity prevention initiatives must begin at a young age and must be tailored to address the unique needs of racial and ethnic minorities.