Child obesity rates higher in Rochester than suburbs

Child obesity rates higher in Rochester than suburbs




An alarming new study out says children in Monroe County are getting heavier. Research, conducted by the University of Rochester, shows more than one in three kids in the city are overweight or obese.

Researchers looked at the medical records of 8,000 kids living in Monroe County and what they discovered is disturbing. Forty-percent of children who live in the city are overweight or obese and 25-percent of kids in the suburbs are overweight or obese.

Researchers looked at the height, weight, body mass index and blood pressure of children between the ages of two and 18. The Greater Rochester Health Foundation paid for the study.

The foundation has invested $5-million in a regional campaign to encourage parents and children to make health choices. This study creates a baseline so the foundation can track its progress.

Researcher Doctor Stephen Cook says it's not about blame or making anyone look bad. This isn't about weight loss or getting kids to lose weight but getting all families to be healthier and getting their weight in to a normal structure over time.

There's a lack of activity going on, said Duncan McElroye. I think when I was growing up we went outside and played and now kids just sit around and played with video games.

Rochester resident Vanessa Wallace said, It's a problem as they get older later on in life, then they struggle with it. So if you detect it now you don't have to worry about it when they get older.

The good news is that about 70-percent of two-year-olds are a normal weight. The study found children became more overweight as the got older. That gives researchers hope that targeting children at a young age can help reverse the trend.

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• fat
• kids
• child
• obesity
• chubby
• Rochester

[wagnerjovel]

yes, very good

[rogfat]

good vid!!!