1 in 5 American 4-Year-Olds Are Obese, New Study Finds

Rate Among American Indian Children is Even Higher

Information that we're raising a generation of overweight and out-of-shape kids is nothing new. But a newly-released report shows just how bad the childhood obesity problem is becoming.

The study, conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, is an analysis of national representative height and weight data on 8,550 preschoolers born in 2001. Children were considered obese if their body-mass index (BMI) was in the 95th percentile or higher based on government growth charts. The results showed that almost 13 percent of Asian children were obese, along with 16 percent of whites, almost 21 percent of blacks, 22 percent of Hispanics, and 31 percent of American Indians. The figures translate to 18 percent of preschoolers classified as obese overall.

The findings had even researchers caught by surprise, especially in seeing the high percentage of childhood obesity at such an early age. The troubling statistics also pointed out racial and ethnic disparities in children's weight.

With studies already showing that obese children are absent from school more than their healthier peers, intervention is a theme being echoed by nutritionists and pediatricians across the country. This young generation will be at high risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, joint diseases and other weight-related illnesses.

Parents and child care providers are encouraged to turn off the TV, encourage physical activity, and reinforce healthy eating habits with their children. Of course, the best example is by making these lifestyle improvements to everyone in the family!