1. Lieutenant Commander Ashleigh May, PhD
CDC Vital Signs, August Progress on Childhood Obesity Many States Show Declines
Lieutenant Commander Ashleigh May, PhD
Epidemiologist
Julie Eschelbach, MA
Health Communication Specialist
NPHIC Call
July 25, 2013
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity

2. Childhood Obesity: Public Health Importance
1 in 8 U.S. preschoolers is obese
Obesity tracks into adulthood
Overweight or obese preschoolers are 5 times as likely to be overweight or obese as adults
Negative health consequences over the life course
For example: high cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, asthma, and poor mental health
Obesity is costly
Among adults, obesity was associated with $147 billion in medical costs in 2008 (

3. Objective Examine the prevalence and trends in obesity
Among low-income children aged 2 through 4 years
State-specific prevalence and trends
Current analyses updated previous reports of PedNSS data published in 2004 and 2009

4. Data Analyses and Final Sample
Data from the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS)
Provides national, state, county, regional, and local level data
Monitors nutrition and growth indices of low-income children, ages 2 to 4, participating in federally-funded health and nutrition programs
Analysis of state-specific obesity prevalence trends from 2008 through 2011
Trends tested using logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity
Final Study Sample
11.6 million children
43 contributors
40 states
District of Columbia
2 US Territories (US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico)

5. Findings and Conclusions
After decades of rising, obesity rates in low-income preschoolers are now showing small, but significant declines in many states.
However, obesity rates remain high.
Possible factors contributing to this decline may include:
Local and state initiatives
Federal policy changes and initiatives
Population-level changes in behavior
Due to differences in population characteristics, contextual factors related to obesity, and the implementation of policy and environmental interventions used to improve nutrition and physical activity and to reduce and control obesity across states, it is difficult to determine which specific factors in each state may have contributed to these declines.
Possible factors contributing to this decline may include:
Local and state initiatives
Federal policy changes and initiatives
Population-level changes in behavior
For example, local and state initiatives such as the implementation of nutrition and physical activity standards for early child care programs may have helped to reduce obesity prevalence11 as well as efforts to improve healthier food options and physical activity offerings in states and communities12.
Further, federal policy changes such as the alignment of the WIC package of nutritious foods with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans13 may have led to both improved offerings in stores and improved dietary consumption among low-income preschool children.
These federal, state, and community approaches have changed support for breastfeeding mothers and societal norms overtime such that we are also observing population-level changes in behaviors such as increases in breastfeeding14 which may contribute to the observed declines in childhood obesity.

6. Vital Signs Target Audience: State and Local Officials
Role of State and Local Officials
Creating partnerships with diverse stakeholders
Increasing access to healthy, affordable food and beverages
Providing access to safe, free drinking water
Encouraging the use of best practices for nutrition, physical activity, and screen time in child care
State and local officials can help create partnerships with diverse stakeholders, for example, Chambers of commerce, food policy councils, civic groups, business leader networks, and other community-based organizations. This engagement can help bring in non-traditional partners who may not view community health as part of their direct mission.
In addition to stakeholder groups, state and local officials can also engage community members to have a participatory role in creating healthy environments as powerful process for generating sustainable change.
Community-based participatory partnerships have the ability to improve community health, economic vitality, reduce disparities, and foster equity.

7. Communication Activities
CDC Vital Signs, August 2013
Communication Activities

8. Press Briefing Tuesday, August 6 at NOON Spokespeople
Ileana Arias, PhD, CDC Principal Deputy Director
CAPT Heidi M. Blanck, PhD, Obesity Prevention and Control Branch Chief
LCDR Ashleigh L. May, PhD, Epidemiologist
CDC National Press Release
Embargoed until August 6 at NOON

9. Web and Social Media Activities
Vital Signs
CDC.gov front page link
Overweight and Obesity
Childhood Overweight and Obesity
Vital Minute Podcast
GovDelivery Updates
Distributed to Vital Signs and DNPAO subscribers
Sign up at
Digital Press Release
Distributed through PRWeb

10. Web and Social Media Activities
Web buttons
Content Syndication
CDC Facebook
Twitter:
#VitalSigns
LinkedIn
Google+
Pinterest
Infographic : “A Day in the Life of a Preschooler”

11. State and Community Outreach
State Grantees Preparation Call
Thursday, August 1st at 3 p.m.
Audience: State programs currently funded by CDC
Embargoed Vital Signs MMWR, Fact Sheet and state “swiss cheese” press release will be sent via August 6th at 9 a.m.
Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support (OSTLTS) Teleconference
Tuesday, August 13th at 2 p.m.
Audience: Tribal leaders and health officials; state health officials; local health department staff; HHS regional directors; ASTHO senior deputies; and, OSTLTS grantees

12. Questions?
For more information please contact Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA
Telephone: CDC-INFO ( )/TTY:
Web:
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity