Many New York City Children Overweight

Reuters Health, November 19, 2004

NEW YORK, Nov 19 (Reuters Health) -- New York City children are "substantially more overweight" than youngsters elsewhere in the country, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overall, 19.7% of the city's third-graders and 21.2% of sixth-graders were overweight, defined as having a weight in the top 5% of all children's weight measured in the nation. In the country as a whole, 12.5% to 14.7% of boys and girls aged 6 to 11 are overweight.

There was a trend towards greater weight in boys rather than girls, and in non-Hispanic black children compared with other ethnic groups, although the small study makes it difficult to compare specific subgroups of children.

The study included 664 children selected at random from 137 classrooms to be weighed and to answer questions about diet.

Children in New York may be heavier than their counterparts in other cities for a number of reasons, most likely due to factors in their environment. For example, non-Hispanic black children reported eating 200 more calories per day compared with non-Hispanic white children.

"Non-Hispanic black sixth-graders also reported lower levels of physical activity compared with non-Hispanic whites, particularly girls," according to the report.

The findings suggest that New York City children may face obesity-related illness and chronic diseases later in life.

Although too many calories is ultimately the cause of obesity, strictly limiting calorie intake may not be the best way to encourage youngsters to lose weight, according to the report.

"Because excessive caloric restriction may be detrimental to children going through a phase of rapid growth and development, the emphasis should be placed on increasing energy expenditure through physical activity, while maintaining balanced calorie intake and improving eating habits, to achieve health promotion and disease prevention goals," according to the report.

SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1998;47:980-983.