Nearly One-Third of Wake Kindergarteners At Risk of Being Overweight

4/22/2005

A random survey of kindergarteners in Wake County Public Schools indicates that 31 percent are at-risk of being overweight. Wake County Human Services randomly reviewed 2,131 required physicals for the county's 9,142 five-year-olds, who started school in 2004-05, to calculate body mass index (BMI).

Wake County Human Services, in partnership with First Citizens Bank, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina, Be Active N.C., and The News & Observer, co-sponsored the 7th Annual Wide-A-Wake Forum, "Wake Up! Shape Up! Part II," Friday, April 22, to address issues families in Wake County are facing in dealing with obesity. The BMI study results were announced prior to the start of the forum, held at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh.

Of those surveyed, 31 percent had a BMI at or above the 85th percentile of the Centers for Disease Control's growth charts for age and gender, placing them at-risk of being overweight. Children at or above the 95th percentile are defined as being obese. BMI reflects body weight adjusted for height, age and gender and is considered a better measure for body fat.

Of the Latino kindergarteners surveyed, 47 percent were at-risk of being overweight, followed by 35 percent of African-Americans and 26 percent white. 

Wake County's numbers are similar to the state's rate. In 2003, it was estimated that 30 percent of children age two to four years old and 39 percent age five to 11 are at-risk of being overweight across North Carolina. For children age 12-18, the rate jumps to 44 percent, according to the N.C. Nutrition and Physical Activity Surveillance System.

In Wake County, the trend toward being overweight also appears to increase with age. A 2003 assessment by Human Services of 544 students enrolled in six Wake County elementary schools showed 49 percent to be at-risk of being overweight. Of the Latinos surveyed, 57 percent were at-risk compared to 55 percent of African-Americans and 42 percent white.

"The trends in Wake County are alarming," said Gibbie Harris, Community Health director. "In our review, nearly one-third of the children entering school at age five are at-risk for significant health problems caused by being overweight. Our children are not only growing taller, but wider. If this trend continues, our community will see a generation of teenagers with high cholesterol, elevated blood pressures, increased insulin levels and diabetes. When a child is overweight, this is a problem for families and our community, not just for the individual child."

In conjunction with the release of the BMI scores, Harris and other local health leaders called for improved community involvement and collaboration among businesses, schools, Human Services, recreational agencies and insurance companies to increase fitness programs and healthy lifestyle initiatives for children and families.

Keynote speaker for the Wide-A-Wake community forum was Dr. Susan Blumenthal of Washington, D.C., former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General and a noted medical expert and leader in disease and violence prevention, cancer, women's health and mental illness.

This the second consecutive year the forum has focused on the issue of obesity and solutions to this growing health problem.

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