Childhood Obesity Rate Falls "Significantly"

According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC) of the United States of America for the first time ever the childhood obesity rate has dropped.

Boldly with much surprise Thomas Frieden, director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) had this to say about the new data "Now, for the first time, we're seeing a significant decrease in childhood obesity."

Quite the statement coming from the government agency who has been collecting official data on obesity in the United States since 1985. Some would argue that such a "Significant" statement would be arguable without some hardcore facts to back of the claim.

So let's break down the statistics of the August 6th 2013 CDC study.

All of the data from the report came from a study by the CDC of 12 million children in 40 states most of which are currently enrolled in the government's Women, Infants and Children program.

Here are the facts:

1. Obesity dropped in 18 states for children ages 2-4

2. 1 in every 8 nursery-age children are overweight

Even higher rates among African-American and Hispanic children

3. The greatest declines were in Missouri, New Jersey and South Dakota

Where the overall childhood obesity rate dropped by 1%

4. The lowest rate was Hawaii

One of the smallest states in the country

5. And the largest rate was California

the most populated state of all 50

6. 1/3 of all children in the United States are Obese

So I think it's time that we start rethinking the word "Significant" or possibly start putting better laws in place to change agencies like the CDC and USDA.

There is still a major problem out there and the 18 states that saw a decrease in one age group that was less that a total percent of the overall childhood obesity problem isn't a call for celebration by any means.

The Official US Obesity Rate via BuzzFeed

Buzz Feed / Via youtube.com

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By Alexandar Wagner