MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

News Summary for December 15, 2011

1. Obesity in K–8 Students — New York City, 2006–07 to 2010-11 School Years

CDC
Division of News & Electronic Media           
(404) 639-3286

Overall obesity rates among New York City public elementary and middle school students have decreased over the past five years across all race and ethnic groups, marking the biggest decline in childhood obesity reported by any large municipality in the country. Obesity rates among kindergartners through eighth graders, children ages 5 through 14, decreased by 5.5 percent from 21.9 percent in 2006-07 to 20.7 percent in 2010-11. The sharpest decline was seen among children ages 5 to 6 years old, with a close to 10 percent drop (from 20.2 percent in 2006-07 to 18.2 percent in 2010-11) in this age group. Despite these encouraging trends, one in five children in grades K-8 is still obese. Childhood obesity rates are still high and more needs to be done to reduce them further

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES