TY - JOUR
T1 - A geographical comparison of prevalence of overweight school-aged children
T2 - The National Survey of Children's Health 2003
AU - Tudor-Locke, Catrine
AU - Kronenfeld, Jennie J.
AU - Kim, Sam S.
AU - Benin, Mary
AU - Kuby, Michael
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - OBJECTIVES. This study presents a geographical comparison of state-specific prevalence estimates of children who are at risk of overweight and/or overweight using the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health. METHODS. Using the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, we computed prevalence estimates of children who are at risk of overweight and/or overweight among a nationally representative sample of 69 000 children between 5 and 17 years old. RESULTS. Overall, 36.4% of the children (39.8% of the boys and 32% of the girls) in the sample were in the combined category of at risk of overweight or overweight, representing an estimated 17 million US children. We found geographic variation at the state and the regional levels. The southeastern states, especially those west of the Appalachians and in the lower Mississippi region, had the highest prevalence of children who are at risk of overweight and/or overweight. The central Rocky Mountain states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming had the lowest prevalence, followed by the northwestern quadrant of the lower 48 states and New England. CONCLUSIONS. These National Survey of Children's Health data provide clinicians and public health professionals with useful data required for policy and planning related to childhood obesity at state levels. These data also serve as important baseline indicators and can be used to track changes over time.
AB - OBJECTIVES. This study presents a geographical comparison of state-specific prevalence estimates of children who are at risk of overweight and/or overweight using the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health. METHODS. Using the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, we computed prevalence estimates of children who are at risk of overweight and/or overweight among a nationally representative sample of 69 000 children between 5 and 17 years old. RESULTS. Overall, 36.4% of the children (39.8% of the boys and 32% of the girls) in the sample were in the combined category of at risk of overweight or overweight, representing an estimated 17 million US children. We found geographic variation at the state and the regional levels. The southeastern states, especially those west of the Appalachians and in the lower Mississippi region, had the highest prevalence of children who are at risk of overweight and/or overweight. The central Rocky Mountain states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming had the lowest prevalence, followed by the northwestern quadrant of the lower 48 states and New England. CONCLUSIONS. These National Survey of Children's Health data provide clinicians and public health professionals with useful data required for policy and planning related to childhood obesity at state levels. These data also serve as important baseline indicators and can be used to track changes over time.
KW - Body composition
KW - Child
KW - Geography
KW - Growth
KW - Obesity
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U2 - 10.1542/peds.2007-0089
DO - 10.1542/peds.2007-0089
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17908724
AN - SCOPUS:35148863948
SN - 0031-4005
VL - 120
SP - e1043-e1050
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
IS - 4
ER -