Childhood obesity: A glimmer of hope, but a long way to go

New estimates on the numbers of overweight and obese children indicate that the epidemic may have stabilized, but significant work still is needed.

Editorial. June 23/30, 2008.

Last month, a new round of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures on childhood obesity were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, offering what was viewed as good news. The data showed that, after years of increasing at almost exponential rates, childhood overweight and obesity prevalence may have plateaued.

In the official science-speak of the CDC researchers, the incidence of high BMI for age among children and adolescents showed no significant changes between 1999-2000 and 2005-06 and no significant trends between 1999-2006.

This information was heralded as a positive sign -- the first indication of stabilization since the rates began to soar in the early 1980s. But most agree it is only a glimmer of hope. After all, the number of American youngsters considered overweight or obese remains critically high -- an estimated 32% nationally -- and for nearly 2½ decades, the heaviest kids have gotten heavier.

The CDC data quantify what to many people is obvious. Look around a grade school or shopping mall -- about a third of the kids will be hefty. This reality has emerged as one of public health's greatest concerns. Even the most positive spin on the latest estimates don't alter the fact that, at the current level, tens of millions of youngsters are on a fast track to serious health problems.