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New Study Reports Childhood Obesity Rate on the Decline for the Past Decade

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Posted:February 26, 2014

Categories:Family

In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the childhood obesity rate for 2- to 5- year-old children in 2011-2012 saw a significant decline since 2003-2004. 

The rates shifted from about 14 percent in 2004 to 8 percent in 2012- a 43% decline amongst young children ages 2- to 5- years. 

Many experts and scientists vary their opinions on what factors in the last decade have made for such change among this population of children. Some say the decline is based on the shift in parent's purchases of low-calorie food and snacks for their kids, or the improvements made in the federally funded program WIC. 

Credit can also be given to the combination of state, local, and national programs such as First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign which celebrates its four year anniversary this month.

According to Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan, a professor of medicine and public health at Emory University in Atlanta, 'the 2- to 5- year old group is the most significant age group, as it is in those years that obesity becomes established.' 

“You have to say maybe some real progress is taking place at the very time it can have the most impact,” Dr. Koplan said. 

Read more in the NYtimes and CNN.