Obesity and Overweight Prevalence among a Mississippi Low-Income Preschool Population : A Five-Year Comparison

Abstract EN

Purpose.

This study determined 2010 rates of overweight/obesity in a representative sample of low-income preschoolers in Mississippi, USA and compared rates between 2005 (N=1250) and 2010 (N=1765).

Significance.

Obesity is a significant global health issue because of its well-established negative health consequences.

Child obesity is a concern due to risk of early-onset obesity-related illnesses and the longevity of lifetime exposure to those illnesses.

Methods.

Identical measures were used in 2005 and 2010 with complex-stratified sampling designs.

Results.

Chi-square tests revealed that overall obesity/overweight rates between 2005 (20.6%/17.9%) and 2010 (20.8%/17.0%) had not changed significantly for the samples as a whole, nor by gender or race.

Age group comparisons indicated a significant decline in obesity rates of 3 year olds (20.3% in 2005, reduced to 13.1% in 2010, P=0.035).

These findings mimic the trend toward stabilization of obesity rates noted in national low-income preschool populations.