Changes in the Incidence of Childhood Obesity

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-053708
• Publication Date: 2022-07-05T08:13:27Z
• Authors: Solveig A. Cunnin...; Shakia T. Hardy; Rebecca Jones; Carmen Ng; Michael R. Kramer; K.M. Venkat Narayan
• Keywords: Cumulative incidence

OBJECTIVES Examine childhood obesity incidence across recent cohorts. METHODS We examined and prevalence 2 cohorts of children in the United States 12 years apart using Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies, parallel data sets following kindergarten 1998 2010 with direct anthropometric measurements at multiple time points through fifth grade 2004 2016, respectively. investigated annualized rate cumulative proportion (BMI z-score ≥95th percentile based on Centers for Disease Control Prevention weight-for-age z-scores). RESULTS Among who did not have entry, there was a 4.5% relative increase new cases by end (15.5% [14.1%–16.9%] vs 16.2% [15.0%–17.3%]), though annual change substantially. The risk incident had normal BMI entry stayed same, but among overweight kindergartners increased slightly. Social disparities expanded: during primary school non-Hispanic Black 29% (95% confidence interval, 25%–34%), whereas other race–ethnic groups plateaued or decreased. Children from most socioeconomically disadvantaged households experienced 15% higher than 1998. CONCLUSIONS Incidence higher, occurred younger ages, more severe previous; thus, youths may now be health consequences associated early onset obesity.