Missouri childhood obesity on the decline

Missouri is ranked as the 40th lowest state for obesity rates of preschool-aged children on the WIC program, according to the recent report, The State of Obesity, published by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health shows that 12.7 percent of children ages 10 to 17 were classified as obese in Missouri in the 2016-17 year.

National initiatives revamping school lunches and nutrition labels on drinks, packaged foods and restaurant menus has helped, said Dr. Amy Williams, University of Missouri HealthCare Family Medicine Physician.

However, Williams said childhood obesity is still a major issue. In the U.S., about 30 percent of children are overweight or obese.

“Kids are overweight or obese in kindergarten, then that just perpetuates,” Williams said.

Parents should teach their kids healthy habits at a young age and act as role models, she said.

“If I say I want my kid to do this, but I’m not going to do it, then it’s not going to make a huge difference,” she said.

According to the report, high school obesity rates set Missouri as the 10th highest state.

The report also showed Mississippi as having the highest youth obesity rate, at 26.1 percent, while Utah had the lowest, at 8.7 percent.