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Progress on Childhood Obesity: Many States Show Declines infographic text

Map Description

This map of the United States identifies which states experienced statistically significant increases, statistically significant decreases, or did not experience statistically significant changes in the prevalence of obesity among participants, ages 2 to 4, in the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System between the years 2008 and 2011.

Many states and US territories are showing decreases in childhood obesity

The classification is listed below.

Significantly increased:

  • Colorado
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee

Significantly decreased:

  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Mississippi
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • South Dakota
  • Virgin Islands
  • Washington

No statistically significant change:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Montana
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Puerto Rico
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Wisconsin
  • West Virginia

States not listed above were not included in the analysis.


Ways to Promote Health with Preschoolers

  Ways to promote health with preschoolers

This infographic shows ways to promote health with preschoolers in 5 different settings: home, child care, doctor's office, community farmers' market, and local school playground and/or neighborhood park. Box 1 shows a preschooler at home with her parents starting the day with a healthy breakfast. Box 2 shows the preschooler at child care, with the teacher leading outdoor physical activity, and the preschooler eating a healthy snack. Box 3 shows the preschooler at the doctor's office with her parents where her weight, height, and BMI are measured by the doctor, nutrition and physical activity counseling are provided, and nutrition education support services are referred. Box 4 shows the preschooler at the community farmers' market with her mother picking up fruits and vegetables to cook for dinner. Box 5 shows children at a local school playground playing, and a parent supervising.

  • Home:
    • Start with a healthy breakfast.
  • Child Care:
    • Teacher leads indoor or outdoor physical activity, and children are served healthy meals and snacks during the day.
  • Doctor's Office:
    • Weight, height, and BMI are measured; nutrition and physical activity counseling are provided; and nutrition education support services are referred when appropriate.
  • Community Farmers' Market:
    • Pick up fruits and vegetables to cook for dinner.
  • Local School Playground and/or Neighborhood Park:
    • 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.

  • Page last reviewed: August 6, 2013
  • Page last updated: August 6, 2013
  • Content source:
    • National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
    • Page maintained by: Office of the Associate Director for Communications (OADC)
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