Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Significance of Declines in Youth Obesity--A Trend?

Obesity In Young Is Seen As Falling In Several Cities by Sabrina Tavernise.  The New York Times.  December 10, 2012.

Researchers are puzzling over what to make of declines in youth obesity rates in diverse cities including major population centers such as New York and Los Angeles as well as smaller communities like Kearney Nebraska.  The consensus seems to be that while this hopeful sign could be the start of a decline in the obesity epidemic it is too early to know for certain.  The results are uneven.  For example in Mississippi, a decline has isolated to white youth.  However in Philadelphia, the declines in youth obesity are widely spread among several ethnic groups.  Following the approach advocated by the Institute of Medicine, officials are increasingly presenting comprehensive and multifaceted approaches to the problem.  The long-term costs of childhood obesity are tremendous.

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