New York State Department of Health Recognizes National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Department's New York State Prevention Agenda Supports Strategies to Increase Access to Healthy Food and Beverage Choices

Department Promotes Accessible Physical Activity Opportunities to Reduce Obesity and Improve Health

Obesity Affects Some Groups More Than Others Including Children of Color

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 12, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month by raising awareness about childhood obesity and providing families with support and prevention measures. The Department remains committed to creating community environments, policies, and systems that support healthy food and beverage choices and safe and accessible physical activity opportunities, while also increasing efforts to reduce health disparities and inequities, a primary goal in the New York State Prevention Agenda 2019-2024.

"Childhood obesity is a complex disease caused by multiple medical, cultural, socioeconomic, genetic and lifestyle factors," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "It can be a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes, eating disorders, respiratory problems, depression and low self-esteem. The State Health Department remains committed to providing parents and caregivers with support and resources to keep their children healthy and creating communities that support healthy, active lifestyles for everyone."

Obesity affects some groups more than others, including adolescents, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children and children with family income 130 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Level. These disparities in obesity are due to systemic and institutional barriers, such as lack of access to healthy, affordable foods and beverages, safe and convenient places for physical activity, and healthcare services. Disparities in obesity underscore the need to address social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, to remove barriers to health. Strategies to address overweight and obesity should focus on improving the conditions and set of forces and systems shaping these conditions, for groups experiencing the greatest disparities in obesity.

For children ages 2 to 18, obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. In New York State, outside New York City, rates of obesity among children and adolescents in public school districts have increased more than 13 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic. Data reported to the State Health Department during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years estimate that 19.8 percent of elementary students and 21.8 percent of middle and high school students have a BMI placing them in the obesity weight status category. Data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a national survey of middle and high school students, showed obesity rates increased for middle and high school students in New York State and New York City following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department has remained committed to eliminating health disparities and providing resources to families that can help address childhood obesity. The Department encourages New York communities to implement recommendations in the New York State Prevention Agenda 2019-2024 to improve the quality of health of New Yorkers.

Families can help prevent obesity by modeling a healthy eating pattern and regular physical activity, setting consistent sleep routines and reducing screen time. Families with children in childcare can look for early care and education settings supporting healthy infant feeding, healthy eating, physical activity and screen time limits. These preventive strategies are part of a healthy lifestyle developed during early childhood.

Families can also talk to their child's pediatrician about how to support healthy habits for children or treatment options for children with obesity.

New York State Medicaid and other health plans cover treatment options for children with obesity. Families can contact their health plan to learn more about covered treatment programs.

Exclusive human milk feeding is one of the best ways to start an infant on the lifelong path of healthy nutrition.

Children and adults are recommended to follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which provide general diet and lifestyle recommendations for healthy Americans. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition provides guidance and recommendations for children, adolescents and adults to engage in physical activity safely.

Dietary Guidelines can be found here.

Physical Activity guidelines can be found here.

Preventing Childhood Obesity: 6 Things Families Can Do can be found here.

Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC), 2021-2026n can be found here.

Obesity Statistics can be found here.

Information on obesity rates in New York State school districts can be found here.

More information about breastfeeding, chestfeeding and human milk feeding recommendations and support for families can be found here.