A new study using nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provides an updated look at long-term trends in childhood obesity in the US. The analysis, published in Pediatric Obesity,includes data collected from more than 28,600 youth aged 2 to 19 years, spanning from 1999 through August 2023. Westat staff members Jason (Jay) Clark, MS, and Minsun Riddles, PhD, are among the co-authors.
Researchers used measured height and weight to assess obesity prevalence, defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age. The most recent NHANES cycle, conducted from August 2021 to August 2023, included design modifications and smaller sample sizes for certain population subgroups, reflecting challenges related to data collection conditions during that period.
The study identified statistically significant increases in obesity, as well as patterns that suggest recent shifts in trends. Some of these findings may reflect changes in the sample design of the latest published data, and the authors noted that ongoing data collection would provide context for monitoring these patterns.
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