1

 www http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns

Progress on 

Childhood Obesity 

Obese children are more likely to become obese 

adults and suffer lifelong physical and mental health 

problems. Obesity rates in low-income preschoolers, 

after decades of rising, began to level off from 2003 

through 2008 and now are showing small declines 

in many states. However, too many preschoolers are 

obese. State and local officials can play a big part in 

reducing obesity among preschoolers. 

State and Local Officials can:

◊ Create partnerships with community members such as 

civic leaders and child care providers to make community 

changes that promote healthy eating and active living.

◊ Make it easier for families with children to buy healthy, 

affordable foods and beverages in their neighborhood. 

◊ Help provide access to safe, free drinking water in places 

such as community parks, recreation areas, child care 

centers, and schools.

◊ Help local schools open up gyms, playgrounds, and sports 

fields during non-school hours so more children can safely 

play.

◊ Help child care providers use best practices for improving 

nutrition, increasing physical activity, and decreasing 

computer and television time.

Obesity among low-income preschoolers 

declined, from 2008 through 2011, in 19 

of 43 states and territories studied.

Children who are overweight 

or obese as preschoolers 

are 5 times as likely as 

normal-weight children to be 

overweight or obese as adults. 

19

About 1 in 8 preschoolers is obese* 

in the US.

1 in 8 Many States Show Declines

5x

* Children are considered obese if their BMI is at or above the 

95th percentile for children of the same age and sex according to 

the 2000 CDC Growth Charts.

See page 4

Want to learn more? Visit

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity

August 2013
Problem

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Too many preschoolers 

are obese

1. 1 in 8 (12%) preschoolers is obese.

◊ About 1 in 5 (19%) black children and 1 in 6 

(16%) Hispanic children between the ages of 

2 and 5 are obese.

◊ Obese children are more likely to be obese 

later in childhood and adolescence. In these 

older children and adolescents, obesity is 

associated with high cholesterol, high blood 

sugar, asthma, and mental health problems.

◊ Children who are overweight or obese as 

preschoolers are 5 times as likely as normalweight children to be overweight or obese 

as adults.

2. Obesity rates among preschoolers are 

improving, but there is more work to be 

done to continue this downward trend. 

Among low-income preschoolers 

(ages 2-4 years) from 2008-2011: 

◊ Obesity rates decreased slightly in 19 of 43 

states and territories.

◊ Obesity rates increased slightly in 3 of 43 

states and territories. 

◊ Obesity rates did not change in 21 of 43 states 

and territories. 

Many states and US territories are showing decreases in 

childhood obesity

WA

MT

OR

NV

CA

UT

AZ NM

ID

WY

ND

SD

MN

IA NE

KS

TX

FL

MS

LA

AL GA

SC

NC

VA

ME

NY

WI

OK

MO

AR

KY

IL IN

MI

OH

WV MD

DE

NJ

VT

RI

CT

MA

AK

HI

NH

DC

VI PR

CO

TN

PA

Decrease*

WA

MT

OR

NV

CA

UT

AZ NM

ID

WY

ND

SD

MN

IA NE

KS

TX

FL

MS

LA

AL GA

SC

NC

VA

ME

NY

WI

OK

MO

AR

KY

IL IN

MI

OH

WV MD

DE

NJ

VT

RI

CT

MA

HI

NH

DC

VI PR

CO

TN

PA

WA

MT

OR

NV

CA

UT

AZ NM

ID

WY

ND

SD

MN

IA NE

KS

TX

FL

MS

LA

AL GA

SC

NC

VA

ME

NY

WI

OK

MO

AR

KY

IL IN

MI

OH

WV MD

DE

NJ

VT

RI

CT

MA

AK

HI

NH

DC

VI PR

CO

TN

PA

WA

MT

OR

NV

A

UT

AZ NM

ID

WY

ND

SD

MN

IA NE

KS

TX

FL

MS

LA

AL GA

SC

NC

VA

ME

NY

WI

OK

MO

AR

KY

IL IN

MI

OH

WV MD

DE

NJ

VT

RI

CT

MA

HI

NH

DC

VI PR

CO

TN

PA

No Change

Increase*

Not Included

SOURCE: Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System, 2008-2011.

*Represents statistically significant annual decrease or increase in obesity. 

To learn more about how childhood obesity is measured, see http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/basics.html. 
3

Start with a 

healthy breakfast.

A Day in 

the Life 

of a Preschooler

Ways to 

promote 

health 

with 

preschoolers

Ways to 

promote 

health 

with 

preschoolers

Teacher leads indoor or outdoor 

physical activity, and children are 

served healthy meals and snacks 

during the day.

Weight, height, and BMI are measured; 

nutrition and physical activity counseling are 

provided; and nutrition education support 

services are referred when appropriate.

Pick up fruits and vegetables to 

cook for dinner.

Children and parents walk to local school 

playground or neighborhood park to play. 

SOURCES: CDC. MMWR. 2009 July; 58(RR-7): 1-26.; AAP, APHA, NCR for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. 2011. nrckids.org;

Spear BA, et al. Pediatrics. 2007.
4

 www http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

 www http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns

For more information, please contact 

Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

TTY: 1-888-232-6348

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Web: www.cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333

Publication date: 08/06/2013

What Can Be Done

Federal government is: 

◊ Funding states and communities to 

implement programs that promote healthy 

eating and physical activity. 

◊ Measuring trends in childhood obesity and 

its risk factors.

◊ Funding research to investigate the causes 

and effects of childhood obesity and to 

identify effective interventions. 

◊ Providing training and resources 

for parents, child care centers and 

communities to help prevent childhood 

obesity through initiatives such as We Can! 

and the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative. 

◊ Helping low-income families to get 

affordable, nutritious foods through 

programs such as the Supplemental 

Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 

Children (WIC) and the Child and Adult 

Care Feeding Program.

State and Local Officials can:

◊ Create partnerships with community 

members such as civic leaders and child care 

providers to make community changes that 

promote healthy eating and active living.

◊ Make it easier for families with children to 

buy healthy, affordable foods and 

beverages nearby.

◊ Help provide access to safe, free drinking 

water in places such as community parks, 

recreation areas, child care centers, 

and schools.

◊ Help local schools open up gyms, 

playgrounds, and sports fields during nonschool hours so more children can 

safely play.

◊ Help child care providers use best practices 

for improving nutrition, increasing physical 

activity, and decreasing computer and 

television time.

Doctors and nurses can:

◊ Measure children’s weight, height and body 

mass index routinely.

◊ Counsel parents about nutrition and physical 

activity for their children.

◊ Connect families with community 

resources such as nutrition education and 

breastfeeding support services.

Child care providers 

and parents can:

◊ Serve fruits and vegetables and other 

nutritious foods for meals and snacks.

◊ Be role models by eating healthy meals and 

snacks with preschoolers.

◊ Make water easily available throughout 

the day. 

◊ Limit the time preschoolers watch TV or use 

the computer in child care and the home.

◊ Support and encourage preschoolers to be 

physically active every day.

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