Severe Obesity on the Rise Among Young U.S. Children

Study shows increase from 1.8% to 2% in four years, with highest rates in California and among Hispanic children.

Severe obesity in U.S. children aged 2 to 4 is on the rise, with a study showing an increase from 1.8% in 2016 to 2% in 2020, translating to about 33,000 of more than 1.6 million kids in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
Significant increases were seen in 20 states, with the highest rate in California at 2.8%, and notable rises in some racial and ethnic groups, with the highest rate of about 2.8% in Hispanic kids.
Severe obesity at a very early age is nearly irreversible and is strongly associated with chronic health problems and early death.
Experts attribute the previous drop in WIC obesity rates to 2009 policy changes that eliminated juice from infant food packages, provided less saturated fat, and made it easier to buy fruits and vegetables.
Some small studies have suggested a marked increase in childhood obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when kids were kept home from schools, eating and bedtime routines were disrupted, and physical activity decreased.