The Pediatric Obesity Epidemic Continues Unabated in Bogalusa, Louisiana

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine 35-year trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents from Bogalusa, Louisiana. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Height and weight were measured for 11653 children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years of age in 8 cross-sectional surveys. The Bogalusa Heart Study contributed data from 1973–1994, and routine school screening provided 2008–2009 data. Trends in mean BMI, mean gender-specific BMI-for-age z scores, prevalence of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 85th percentile), and prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) according to age, race, and gender were examined. RESULTS: Since 1973–1974, the proportion of children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years who are overweight (overweight plus obese) has more than tripled, from 14.2% to 48.4% in 2008–2009. Similarly, the proportion of obese children and adolescents has increased more than fivefold from 5.6% in 1973–1974 to 30.8% in 2008–2009. The prevalence of overweight or obesity, and secular changes, were similar among black and white boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: In semirural Bogalusa, the childhood obesity epidemic has not plateaued, and nearly half of the children are now overweight or obese.