Obesity a Problem with Preschoolers, New Study Says

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

07 Apr 2009 08:30 AM

A new study was released that shows that one out of every five four-ear-olds is obese. This information is startling even to the researchers. Furthermore, there was a lot of disparity with obesity and race, even at this early preschool age. Here is what the researchers found.

• More than half a million four-year-olds are obese
• Obesity is the most common in American Indian children, who are twice as likely to be obese as are white children.
• Obesity is also prevalent among four-year-olds who are of Hispanic or black heritage.

The study is an important one because obesity in early childhood is indicative of obesity in adulthood and brings with it a whole host of health problems in life, including diabetes and heart disease.

The racial and ethnic disparities that were revealed in the study were startling to the researchers, as well as other professionals in the area of pediatrics.

What are the risk factors that may contribute to a four-year-old becoming obese? Here are some factors.

• Poverty. Children may have access only to low cost calorie rich foods, such as pasta, rice and refined foods without the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, families who are working hard to make ends meet may not have time for exercise and outdoor activty.
• Parents with less education. Parents may not be aware of nutritional guidelines for their children's diets
• Genetic disposition. There may be a genetic component that makes it more likely for children to develop obesity at an early age.
• Gestational diabetes during pregnancy. There is a link between the risk for obesity in a baby born to a mother who had the condition of gestational diabetes while carrying the child.

The study was conducted by Sarah Anderson, an Ohio State University public health researcher, and Dr. Robert Whitaker with Temple University.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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