Rising Rates of Severe Obesity in US Youth Confirmed by Study

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals that severe obesity is on the rise among young children in the US, contradicting earlier research that showed a decline in obesity rates. The study focused on children aged 2 to 4 enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children program and found that the rate of severe obesity increased from 1.8% in 2016 to 2% in 2020. The highest rates were observed in Hispanic children, and experts warn that severe obesity at a young age is associated with chronic health problems and early death. The reasons for the increase are unclear, but it is speculated that the challenges faced by low-income families and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to the trend.