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Explore childhood obesity related data by age group

Ages 2-4

The rate of obesity has declined among children ages 2 to 4 enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). From 2010 to 2020, the national rate of obesity dropped from 15.9% to 14.4%. The decline was statistically significant among all racial and ethnic groups studied: American Indian/Alaska Native (18.4%), Asian/Pacific Islander (10.7%), Black (11.9%), Hispanic (17.4%), and White (12.3%).

Fast Facts

14.4%
The national rate of obesity dropped from 15.9% to 14.4% between 2010-2020.
31
The obesity rate among WIC participants ages 2-4 decreased in 31 states or territories.
8.3%
The obesity rate was 8.3% in Utah, the lowest rate of any state.
Map View List View
MEMAMIMTNVNJNYNCOHPARITNTXUTWAWIMDALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMNMSMONENHNMNDOKORSCSDVTVAWVWYDCMDDENJRICTMANHVT
Rank
State
Obesity Rate
Trend 2000 - 2020
1 Alaska
19.9%
2 Delaware
18.5%
3 Massachusetts
17.1%
4 Maryland
17.0%
5 California
17.0%
6 West Virginia
16.5%
7 Rhode Island
16.5%
8 New Hampshire
16.1%
9 Texas
15.9%
10 North Dakota
15.9%
11 South Dakota
15.8%
12 Iowa
15.8%
13 Virginia
15.7%
14 Alabama
15.6%
15 New Jersey
15.4%
16 Kentucky
15.3%
17 Wisconsin
15.2%
18 Illinois
15.1%
19 Washington
14.8%
20 Oregon
14.7%
21 Vermont
14.6%
22 Tennessee
14.6%
23 Nebraska
14.6%
24 Mississippi
14.4%
25 Connecticut
14.4%
26 North Carolina
14.1%
27 Maine
14.1%
28 Arkansas
13.9%
29 Michigan
13.8%
30 Louisiana
13.7%
31 New York
13.6%
32 Florida
13.4%
33 South Carolina
13.1%
34 Pennsylvania
13.1%
35 Arizona
13.1%
36 Oklahoma
12.9%
37 Georgia
12.9%
38 Indiana
12.8%
39 District of Columbia
12.8%
40 New Mexico
12.7%
41 Missouri
12.7%
42 Ohio
12.5%
43 Kansas
12.2%
44 Wyoming
11.6%
45 Minnesota
11.6%
46 Idaho
11.5%
47 Montana
10.8%
48 Hawaii
10.7%
49 Nevada
10.3%
50 Colorado
8.6%
51 Utah
8.3%
Key:
0 - 9.9%
10 - 14.9%
15 - 19.9%
20 - 24.9%
25 - 29.9%
30 - 34.9%
35%+

About this Data

The WIC Participant and Program Characteristics (WICPPC) survey gathers data from all states on all participants. A strength of these data is that they are a census of all WIC participants and not just a sample of them. The data include height and weight measurements for children, which are collected by medical staff during certification visits, and then are used to calculate BMI and obesity rates among children ages 2 to 4. The data are gathered in April of even-numbered years, and analyzed by the CDC.

Data for 2000, 2004 are available from: Pan L, Freedman DS, Sharma AJ, et al. Trends in Obesity Among Participants Aged 2-4 Years in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – United States, 2000–2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 2016;65:1256–1260. DOI.

Data for 2008 and beyond are available from: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Data, Trend and Maps [online]. [accessed Jul 20, 2021].

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