The number of obese kids in city schools is sliding down though one in five still weighs far too much. The improvements in weight among black and Hispanic children and those in poor neighborhoods were more modest than those in wealthier, white youngsters. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
@WiLMajor
Nationwide, the number of obese children has leveled off, but the statistics from the city suggest that public schools here are actually reversing the trend.
Between 2007 and 2011, the obesity rate for New York City public school children in kindergarten through eighth grade dropped from 21.9% to 20.7%, the national Centers for Disease Control says, citing city data.
The decline was most dramatic among kindergartners. Five years ago, 20.2% were deemed obese — meaning their body mass index was above the 95th percentile. That figure that fell to 18.2% last year.
“Despite the decreases in obesity, continued public health interventions are needed to further reduce the prevalence,†the report said.
“The uneven gains among minorities and those with lower incomes highlight the need for further targeted measures to reduce childhood obesity,†it added.
