The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announced on Wednesday that obesity rates for third-grade students have decreased for the fourth consecutive year, according to a new report from the department’s Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Program. The report, which analyzed data from nearly 2,950 students across 40 schools in 21 counties, shows notable declines in obesity rates among both kindergarten and third-grade students.
For kindergarten students, obesity rates dropped from 18.2% to 17.3%, while third-grade obesity rates decreased from 27.5% to 24.1%. However, the report highlights that boys have obesity rates 6.5% higher than girls, and American Indian students continue to experience the highest obesity rates at 27.6%.
Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie emphasized the importance of analyzing these data to identify areas lacking infrastructure for safe physical activity and access to affordable healthy food. “Obesity in children highlights inequities in our community infrastructure and access to resources,” DeBlassie said.
The childhood obesity surveillance program, launched in 2010, uses Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles and standardized measurements to monitor obesity trends over time, guide prevention efforts, and inform resource allocation. Despite these improvements, the report underscores that childhood obesity remains a significant challenge, with rates climbing as children progress from kindergarten to third grade.
The report attributes this issue to several factors, including weight bias, socioeconomic status, food insecurity, and community infrastructure. Additionally, nearly 25% of school-aged children in New Mexico lived in poverty in 2023, compared to the national average of 15.7%. These factors place New Mexican children at higher risk for obesity and related health conditions such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and depression.
In response to the crisis, the NMDOH has implemented programs in seven counties and one tribal community, focusing on initiatives such as farm-to-school food programs, exercise activities, and nutrition education to help combat childhood obesity.
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