In addition to improvements in the WIC program, local, state and national efforts designed to prevent childhood obesity, may have contributed to this decline. “We must persist in our efforts to support healthy eating and physical activity for this positive trend to continue.” Ruth Petersen, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. “While we have seen some progress, obesity prevalence among young children remains too high,” said Dr. A previous study reported that 34 of 56 WIC state/territory agencies experienced decreases in obesity prevalence during 2010–2014.Three state agencies showed significant increases in obesity: Alabama (0.5%), North Carolina (0.6%), and West Virginia (2.2%).During 2010–2016, obesity decreased by more than 3% in seven WIC state and territorial agencies (New Jersey, New Mexico, Utah, Virginia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico).In 2016, obesity prevalence among young children enrolled in WIC varied from 7.8% to 19.8%.Over 12.4 million children aged 2 to 4 years from 56 WIC state agencies and territories were included in the study. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers analyzed obesity trends from 2010 to 2016 among young children, aged 2 to 4 years, from low-income families enrolled in WIC. “We are moving in the right direction and helping parents make healthy choices for their children is reducing the potential for complications posed by childhood obesity later in life.”ĬDC and U.S. “Improvements in national, state, and caregiver guidance around nutrition and physical activity may be contributing to this decline in childhood obesity,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D. In addition to the food packages, WIC helps to establish successful long-term breastfeeding, provides participants with a wider variety of food, and offers WIC state agencies greater flexibility in prescribing food packages to adapt to participants with cultural food preferences.ĭespite these recent declines in obesity among children enrolled in WIC, the prevalence remained high in most states in 2016. This change led to increased availability of healthier foods and beverages in authorized WIC stores and improved dietary quality among families who enrolled in WIC. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In 2009, WIC state agencies were required to implement redesigned WIC food packages to better align with the U.S. states and territories show significant declines in obesity among children, aged 2-4 years, from low-income families enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) between 2010-2016, according to data published today in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

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