A recent study by the CDC found that from 2006–07 to 2010–11, the overall prevalence of obesity in grades K–8 in New York decreased 5.5%, from 21.9% to 20.7%. The prevalence of obesity decreased among children in all age groups, neighborhood poverty levels, and racial/ethnic populations, according to the study.
The groups with the largest decreases were children aged 5–6 years (9.9%, from 20.2% to 18.2%. Of these, most were white children (23.6%, from 16.1% to 12.3%), followed Asian/Pacific Islanders (from 15.5% to 13.4%), then blacks (from 18.5% to 17.2%), and finally Hispanics (from 24.9% to 23.4%).
The findings were based on approximately 2 million BMI measurements were completed for 947,765 K–8 students over the 5-year period.
The report pointed out that the decrease in obesity may be related to multiple interventions implemented by New York City starting in 2003. Group child care centers were required to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and limit the time spent watching television and playing video games.
Schools also made changes. They started using 1% and skim milk instead of whole milk, added physical activity programs, and sent individualized BMI and fitness reports to all parents of K–8 public school students (beginning in 2005), with guidance on how to help their children maintain a healthy weight.
