Colorado among few states with upward trend in preschool obesity

A new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that Colorado is one of only three states studied where obesity rates among low-income preschoolers increased in recent years.

In contrast, the study of 43 states and territories found that obesity rates declined in 19 and stayed the same in 21 from 2008-11. Pennsylvania and Tennessee are the other two states where obesity rates increased during the three-year period.

In Colorado’s case, obesity rates among the preschoolers studied started at 9.4 percent in 2008, dipped to a low of 9 percent in 2009 and rose to 10 percent by 2011. Despite Colorado’s upward trend line, it still has lower-than-average obesity rates for the low-income preschool population. Overall, rates ranged from 9.2 percent (Hawaii) to 17.9 percent (Puerto Rico) in 2011. Tennessee and Pennsylvania ended at 14.2 percent and 12.2 percent respectively.

The CDC report is based on body mass index data from low-income children, aged two to four, who participated in programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC.