Obesity in the U.S. is at epidemic proportions. The U.S. had the highest obesity rate in the world for several years and only recently bequeathed the rank to Mexico.  According to several reports, the first drops in obesity in over 30 years have begun to occur in several cities across the U.S. The percentages are small, but the fact that they are occurring at all is big deal because that means that the stagnation the U.S. has endured while fighting this disease may actually be able to reverse itself.

Researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a National Health and Nutrition Examination survey in 2011 and 2012 that examined the diets and eating habits of over 9,000 children ages 2 years old to 19 years old and adults 20 years of age and over. The study found that rates of childhood obesity have dropped 43 percent for children between the ages of 2 years old and 5 years old since 2003.

The news of obesity declining in early childhood is grand news indeed, however the study also found that other age groups obesity levels are on the rise. The study found that nearly 32 percent of those in the study ages 2 years old and 19 years of age were either obese or overweight. The staggering statistic is that 68 percent of U.S. adults are in the overweight or obese category, with 35 percent of them being obese and nearly 7 percent of those being extremely obese.

The nation’s attention has been on obesity for some time, and with the First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Lets Move” initiatives, many food companies are beginning to change the labeling on their foods to accurately reflect their content. Schools across America are also making changes to their cafeteria food line ups as well, taking deep friers out have been a help as well as eliminating soda vending machines from schools. This has been somewhat of a contentious issue as schools who have soda machines have usually paired up with soft drink companies and are receiving compensation in kind.

The decline of early childhood obesity in the U.S. means that a disease which cause so many other illnesses like heart attacks and strokes may also decline.  The U.S. is a leader and pioneer in the world, but if future generations are going forward with a variety of maladies due to obesity, then how will the U.S. lead and be a governing force in the years and decades to come?

– Arthur Fuller

Sources: New York Times, CBS News, MSNBC, BBC
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