Rising Severe Obesity in Young American Children Sparks Call for Doctor Intervention
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics confirms that severe obesity is on the rise among young children in the United States. The study focused on children aged 2 to 4 enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides services to low-income families. The research found that the rate of severe obesity among these children had initially dropped but then increased again by 2020. The increase aligns with national data suggesting that around 2.5% of preschool-aged children were severely obese during the same period. The findings are concerning as severe obesity at a young age is associated with chronic health problems and early mortality. The reasons for the increase are unclear, but experts speculate that the challenges faced by families living in poverty may have contributed. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood obesity rates is also unknown but is expected to worsen the situation.
