Prevalence of Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Chicago
This summarizes what is known about the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in the U.S., Illinois, and Chicago. This information can be downloaded as a fact sheet here.
For children ages of 2-19 years old, weight status is based on Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile for age and sex.* A child is overweight with a BMI at the 85th-94.9th percentile. A child is obese with a BMI >95th percentile. (BMI is a measurement that compares weight to height. The formula is: weight in pounds/(height in inches x height in inches) x 703. Percentile indicates how a child compares to other children the same age and sex. So a child >95th percentile for BMI has a BMI higher than 95 of every 100 similar children.)
Child Overweight and Obesity Prevalence in the U.S.
Nationally, the Prevalence of Child Obesity is Leveling Off – But Remains Very High
Overweight and obesity among 2-19 year olds in the U.S.
(Ogden et al, 2006, Ogden et al, 2010)
Overall. This graph is based on U.S. data from 2007-2008 for children ages 2-19. It indicates that the percent of children who are overweight/obese is stabilizing, but at very high rates.
Differences by age. Boys and girls ages 2-5 had significantly lower rates of high BMI when compare to boys and girls ages 12-19.
Differences by sex. There is not a significant difference in overweight status by sex except in the case of Mexican American children. In this age group, Mexican American boys were significantly more likely to have a BMI >85th percentile and >95th percentile than Mexican American girls.
Differences by race/ethnicity. Hispanic males ages 2-19 are almost twice as likely to have a BMI at or above the 95th percentile when compared to non-Hispanic white and black males. Among girls, non-Hispanic black girls were almost twice as likely to have a BMI at or above the 95th percentile when compared to non-Hispanic white and Hispanic girls ages 2-19.
Child Obesity Prevalence in Illinois
In Illinois, Pre-teen and Teen Obesity Rates Exceed U.S. Levels
Percent of obese children, 10-17 years old
(Trust for America’s Health, 2009)
Overall: This graph is based on U.S. and Illinois data from 2007 for children ages 10-17. It indicates that Illinois children have a higher prevalence of obesity (35%) than US children (31%) of the same age. Illinois has the 10th highest percent of obese and overweight children in the U.S. Data on age, sex, and ethnicity in this sample were not available.
Child Obesity Prevalence in Chicago
In Chicago, Children Aged 3 To 7 Have a Much Higher Prevalence
of Obesity Than U.S. Children 2-5 Years Old
*U.S. data based on children 2-5 years old **Chicago data based on children 3-7 years old
(Ogden et al, 2010, CLOCC press release, 2010)
Overall: This graph is based on data from 2008. Across the US, obesity prevalence for children 2-5 years old was about 10%. In Chicago, obesity prevalence among children 3-7 years old was 22%, more than double that of US rates for similarly aged children. Data on sex and ethnicity in the Chicago sample were not available.
Chicago Children Aged 10 to 13 Have a Higher Prevalence of Obesity Than U.S. Children 6-11 Years Old
Overweight rates in middle childhood
* U.S. data based on children 6-11 years old **Chicago data based on children 10-13 years old
Overall: This graph is based on data from 2008. Across the US, the obesity prevalence for children 6-11 years old was 19.6%. In Chicago, the obesity prevalence among children 10-13 years old was 28%. Data on sex and ethnicity in the Chicago sample were not available.
Chicago Children Living in Communities of Color Have Higher Rates of Obesity Than U.S. Children Nationally and Chicago Children as a Whole
Overweight rates for Chicago communities: Children and Adolescents
*Englewood (sample 97% Black/African-American), sample includes children 2-18 years old |
**Pilsen (sample 92% Mexican/other Hispanic), sample includes children 2-18 years old |
^Chicago (36% Black, 26% Hispanic, 21% White), sample includes children 3-13 years old |
^^U.S.(65.6% White, 15.6% Hispanic, 12.8% Black), sample includes children 2-19 years old |
|
(Ogden et al, 2010, CLOCC Englewood, 2010, CLOCC Pilsen, 2010, Whitman et al, 2004)
The prevalence of obesity among children living in communities of color is significantly higher compared that to Chicago children as a whole and US children nationally.
(CLOCC press release, 2010)
Between 2004 and 2008, the prevalence of obesity at school entry decreased 2%--equivalent to almost 6,000 fewer obese students.
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References
CLOCC. (2010, March 16). Data show rates of obesity for Chicago children at school entry fell from 2003 to 2008 while still double the national average [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.clocc.net/news/CLOCC_Data_R_FINAL.pdf
CLOCC. (2010). Englewood community nutrition & physical activity survey. Available from http://www.clocc.net/coc/project/coop-eng/Englewood_Full_Data_Report.pdf
CLOCC. (2010). Pilsen community nutrition & physical activity survey. Available from
http://www.clocc.net/coc/project/coop-pilsen/Pilsen_Full_Data_Report.pdf
Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Curtin, L.R., McDowell, M.A., Tabak, C.J., & Flegal, K.M. (2006). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 295(13), 1549-1555.
Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Curtin, L.R., Lamb, M.M., & Flegal, K.M. (2010). Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents, 2007-2008. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 303(3), 242-249.
Trust for America’s Health, State Data Illinois. (2009). Retrieved June 16, 2010 from http://healthyamericans.org/states/?stateid=IL
Whitman, S., Williams, C., & Shah, A.M. (2004). Sinai Health System’s community health
survey: Report 1. Chicago, Illinois: Sinai Health System.
