The document summarizes trends in childhood obesity in the United States based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. It finds that childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since the 1970s-1980s, with 18.5% of youth now obese. Obesity rates are higher among older children, boys, and Hispanic and Black youth. While rates have been steadily increasing for decades, some recent data shows rates stabilizing or declining slightly among low-income preschoolers enrolled in WIC.

2. Childhood Obesity Trends
 The latest data from the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey show that the national
obesity rate among youth ages 2 to 19 is 18.5%.
 Since the 1976–1980 NHANES survey, overall
childhood obesity rates have more than tripled, up
from 5.5%. Among 2- to 5-year-olds, the rate more
than doubled, from 5% to 13.9%, as did the rate of 6- to
11-year-olds with obesity, from 6.5% to 18.4%. Among
teens ages 12 to 19, the rate quadrupled, from 5% to
20.6%.

4. Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S.
Children and Adolescents
(Aged 2–19 Years)
Survey Periods
NHA
NES
III
1988–
1994
NHAN
ES
1999–
2002
NHAN
ES
2003–
2006
NHANE
S
2007–
2008
NHAN
ES
2009–
2010
NHANE
S
2011–
2012
NHANE
S
2013–
2014
NHANE
S
2015–
2016
Ages
2 - 5
7.2% 10.3
%
12.4
%
10.4% 12.1 % 8.4 % 9.4% 13.9%
Ages
6 - 11
11.3
%
15.8
%
17.0
%
19.6% 18.0% 17.7% 17.4% 18.4%
Ages
12 -
19
10.5
%
16.1
%
17.6
%
18.1% 18.4% 20.5% 20.6% 20.6%

5. Prevalence of Childhood Obesity
Data from the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey 2015-2016 (Age)
 The prevalence of obesity and severe obesity increases
with age. In 2015-2016, 13.9% of children ages 2 to 5,
18.4% of children ages 6 to 11 and 20.6% of children
ages 12 to 19 had obesity. Nearly 2% of children ages 2
to 5, 5.2% of children ages 6 to 11 and 7.7% of children
ages 12 to 19 had severe obesity.
 Boys are slightly more likely to have obesity than girls.
In 2015-2016, 19.1% of boys had obesity and 17.8% of
girls ages 2 to 19 had obesity. Between 2013-2014 and
2015-2016, the obesity rate of boys went up 11%, while
the percent of girls with obesity increased by 4%.

7. Prevalence of Childhood Obesity
Data from the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey 2015-2016 (Race)
 The prevalence of obesity among non-Hispanic black (22.0%)
and Hispanic (25.8%) youth was higher than among both non-
Hispanic white (14.1%) and non-Hispanic Asian (11.0%) youth.
There were no significant differences in the prevalence of obesity
between non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Asian youth or
between non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth.
 The pattern among girls was similar to the pattern in all youth.
The prevalence of obesity was 25.1% in non-Hispanic black,
23.6% in Hispanic, 13.5% in non-Hispanic white, and 10.1% in
non-Hispanic Asian girls.
 The pattern among boys was similar to the pattern in all youth,
except Hispanic boys (28.0%) had a higher prevalence of obesity
than non-Hispanic black boys (19.0%).
 There were no significant differences in the prevalence of obesity
between boys and girls by race and Hispanic origin.

9. Summary of Low Income
Preschool Childhood Obesity
 Obesity and extreme obesity among U.S. low-income, preschool-
aged children went down for the first time in recent years,
according to a CDC study.
 During 2000–2010, the overall prevalence of obesity among young
low-income children in WIC increased significantly, from 14.0%
in 2000 to 15.5% in 2004 and to 15.9% in 2010; during 2010–2014,
the overall prevalence decreased significantly to 14.5%.
 The prevalence of obesity among young low-income children
varied by WIC State Agency ranging from 8.2% in Utah to 20% in
Virginia.
 The prevalence of obesity was higher among Hispanic (17.3%) and
American Indian/Alaska Native (18.0%) young children than
among those who were non-Hispanic white (12.2%), non-
Hispanic black (11.9%), or Asians/Pacific Islander (11.1%).
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

10. OBESITY AMONG CHILDREN AGES 2-4
 Data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
show a statistically significant decrease in obesity
among 2- to 4-year-old children who were enrolled in
the program—from 15.9% in 2010 to 14.5% in 2014.
 These reductions were widespread, with significant
decreases in 31 states and significant increases in only
four states. On a state level, obesity rates ranged from a
low of 8.2% in Utah to a high of 20.0% in Virginia in
2014.

12. WIC PARTICIPANTS 2-4 YEARS OF AGE
DIFFERENCES BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
 While the most recent study of young children
enrolled in WIC shows widespread reductions in
obesity rates among all major racial and ethnic groups,
young WIC participants still have much higher obesity
rates than the general population of children.
 WIC data also show racial and ethnic disparities in
rates. Among WIC participants ages 2 to 4, 18.0% of
American Indian/Alaska Natives, 17.3% of Latinos,
12.2% of Whites, 11.9% of Blacks and 11.1% of Asian/
Pacific Islanders had obesity in 2014.

13. WIC Participants Difference by Race

14. Trends in adult and childhood obesity
 From 1999–2000 through 2015–2016, a significantly
increasing trend in obesity was observed in both
adults and youth.
 The observed change in prevalence between 2013–2014
and 2015–2016, however, was not significant among
both adults and youth

16. Childhood Obesity Prevalence
Summary
 Among youth, the prevalence of obesity among those aged 2–5 years
was lower compared with older children, and this pattern was seen in
both boys and girls.
 Among youth, there was no significant difference in obesity prevalence
between boys and girls of the same race and Hispanic origin.
 Overall, non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth had a higher
prevalence of obesity compared with other race and Hispanic-origin
groups.
 Among youth, obesity prevalence among non-Hispanic black and
Hispanic youth was higher than both non-Hispanic white and non-
Hispanic Asian youth. This pattern was similar among boys and girls,
except Hispanic boys had a higher obesity prevalence than non-
Hispanic black boys.
 Obesity prevalence increased in both adults and youth during the 18
years between 1999–2000 and 2015–2016. Previous analyses showed no
change in prevalence among youth between 2003–2004 and 2013–2014
(2). In addition, the observed increase in prevalence between 2013–2014
and 2015–2016 was not significant among youth or adults.