Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on December 22, 2020

MARYLAND A new study of childhood obesity shows Maryland ranks low among the states, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In Maryland, 17.6 percent of youth ages 10 to 17 have obesity, giving Maryland a ranking of 10 among the 50 states and D.C.

According to this year's State of Childhood Obesity report, about 1 in 7 children nationwide are considered obese or about 15.5 percent.

"Childhood obesity remains an epidemic in this country," Jamie Bussel, senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said in a release. "We must confront these current crises in ways that also support long-term health and equity for all children and families in the United States."

School closures have left millions of children without a regular source of healthy meals or physical activity. In addition, millions of caregivers have lost income or jobs, making it more difficult for families to access or afford healthy foods.

The report also highlights the obesity rates in younger children, high school students and adults.

Here's a look at how Maryland rates:

Here are a couple findings of note from this year's report:

The five states with the highest obesity rates in children ages 10 to 17 were:

The five states with lowest rates included:

See the full State of Childhood Obesity report online.

The focus of this year's report, according to a release by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is prioritizing childhood health amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In the study, researchers say the pandemic and ongoing economic recession have worsened many of the broader factors that contribute to obesity, including poverty and health disparities.

Emerging research links obesity with increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including among children. Evidence from other vaccines also has led some experts to predict that a COVID-19 vaccine may be less effective in those with underlying medical conditions such as obesity.

To determine the most recent childhood obesity rates, the foundation used data from the 2018-19 National Survey of Children's Health, along with information collected through a separate analysis conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

See the rest here:
Where Maryland Childhood Obesity Ranks Among The States - Patch.com

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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