Latino and Black children have the highest prevalence of severe obesity according to a recent study, Univision Salud reports.
Researchers analyzed data from 1999 through 2014 and concluded that one-third of U.S. children are overweight, 25% are obese and more than two percent are severely obese.
“Despite other recent reports, all categories of obesity have increased from 1999 to 2014, and there is no evidence of a decline in the last few years.” lead researcher Asheley Skinner said.
According to Skinner, there are 4.5 million children who are severely obese in need of immediate treatment.
“Unless we make big changes on a national level, we’re not going to see huge changes in obesity,” Skinner said.
“We have created a culture where kids aren’t very active and one where it’s commonplace and easy to eat fast food, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t change that,” she said.
Learn more about Latino childhood obesity and how you can be a Salud Leader for Latino kids here.
