2011 to 2023 Saw Increase in Prevalence of Obesity Among Children

Follow Drugslib on

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 2, 2025.

via HealthDay

WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 -- The prevalence of obesity increased among children and adolescents from 2011 to 2023, with the increase most pronounced among Black youths, according to a study published online July 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Michael Liu, M.D., from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues examined obesity and severe obesity among U.S. children and adolescents overall and by age, race, and ethnicity from 2011 to August 2023 using serial cross-sectional data from the survey cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The study population included 17,507 children and adolescents. The researchers observed an increase in the overall prevalence of obesity, from 20.3 percent in January 2011 to March 2020 to 22.0 percent in August 2021 to August 2023. The increase was most pronounced among Black children and adolescents, increasing from 22.4 to 35.8 percent. Overall and across all subgroups, the prevalence of severe obesity remained stable between 2011 and August 2023. By the end of the study period (August 2021 to August 2023), the highest prevalence of obesity was seen among Black, Mexican American, and other Hispanic youth (35.8, 28.1, and 25.9 percent, respectively). There was no overall increase in obesity prevalence during the pandemic relative to the prepandemic period, but a pandemic-related increase in obesity prevalence was seen among Black children and adolescents (adjusted difference, 10.4 percentage points).

"Public health and policy interventions are urgently needed to prevent and manage the rising tide of childhood obesity among minoritized populations," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-07-03 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords