Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children

Childhood obesity continues to be a leading public health concern that disproportionately affects low-income and minority children (1). Children who are obese in their preschool years are more likely to be obese in adolescence and adulthood (2) and to develop diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, and sleep apnea (3). One of the Healthy People 2010 objectives (19-3) is to reduce to 5% the proportion of children and adolescents who are obese (4). CDC's Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) is the only source of nationally compiled obesity surveillance data obtained at the state and local level for low-income, preschool-aged children participating in federally funded health and nutrition programs. Click here for more information on the study.