Milling & Baking News - October 19, 2021 - 13

Report reveals obesity rates for
US children still high at over 16%
PRINCETON, NJ. - The rate of obesity
among US children of the ages 10 to 17
remained high at 16.2% for 2019-20, according
to a report released Oct. 13 by the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
The highest rates were among youth of
color and youth from households with
low income. The foundation gave recommendations
on how to prevent childhood
obesity, including making universal
school meals permanent and extending
eligibility for the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants
and Children.
The obesity rates were based on the
2019-2020 National Survey of Children's
Health as well as analysis from the Health
Resources and Services Administration's
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, which
directed the survey and is part of the US
Department of Health and Human Services.
The national childhood obesity rate
has held steady for five years, but more
data are needed to investigate the effects
of COVID-19, according to the report.
" The state of childhood obesity in
America is an urgent call to action for
leaders at all levels and across all sectors, "
said Jamie Bussel, senior program officer
at the RWJF who leads the foundation's
efforts to prevent childhood obesity. " Obesity
is a symptom of deep-rooted challenges
that have only been made worse by
the pandemic and are a warning sign that
our nation's policies are failing our kids.
We must make real, systemic change to
set kids on a path to better health. "
Among ethnic groups, the highest
obesity rates were 28.7% for non-Hispanic
Indian/Alaska natives, 23.8% for non-Hispanic
Black and 21.4% for Hispanic. Low
rates were found for non-Hispanic Asian
at 8.1% and non-Hispanic white at 12.1%.
Among income groups, obesity rates
ranged from 8.6% in the highest income
group to 23.1% in the lowest income group.
Among states, Kentucky had the highest
youth obesity rate at 23.8%. Montana, at
10%, had the lowest rate.
Racist policies and discriminatory
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practices affect the US food system, access
to health care, affordable housing and
family supports like childcare, according
to the report, adding the policies and
practices often force families to make
hard choices on how to spend limited
resources.
Making universal school meals permanent
would ensure every child has access
to a consistent source of health meals,
according to the report. Eligibility for the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants and Children programs
could be extended to postpartum
mothers through the first two years after
birth and to children through age six.
The expanded child tax credit and other
programs designed to pull families out of
poverty and reduce food insecurity could
be extended and expanded, according to
the report. Other recommendations were
closing the Medicaid coverage gap and
developing a consistent federal government
approach to collecting timely data
on obesity rates, including data organized
by race, ethnicity and income level.
The RWJF, based in Princeton, funds
an array of research and initiatives to
address health challenges in America. MBN
Obesity rates were higher for youth of color.
RPBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.kingfl http://www.our.com
Milling & Baking News - October 19, 2021

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