New Report Shows Just Over 14.5% of Wisconsin Kids Are Obese

Thursday, October 14th, 2021 -- 9:00 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) A new report finds just over fourteen and a-half percent of Wisconsin kids ages 10 to 17 is obese, giving Wisconsin a ranking of 27 among the 50 states and D.C.

Jamie Bussel is with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which released the annual State of Childhood Obesity report. “The most important message here is, childhood obesity rates are far too high across the nation and kids of color and those that live furthest from economic opportunity are at greatest risk."

Bussel says the pandemic has led to more sedentary lifestyles. "I have a feeling that we're going to continue to see over the next couple of years impacts on obesity specifically related to COVID. The fact that kids are getting back into schools, have access to more secure meals at schools, more opportunities for physical activity, certainly those are great signs of hope." 

The study suggests solutions which include making universal school meals permanent and broadening federal programs like WIC and others which are designed to pull families from poverty.

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