Children in Minority Groups Have Higher Risk of Obesity

Racial minority groups – such as blacks and Hispanics – are higher in almost every risk factor for childhood obesity.

Major predictors of childhood obesity include having an obese mother, eating solid foods before four months of age, stopping breast-feeding too soon, and over consumption of fast food.

Writing in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found minority children were more inclined to have these risks factors than their white counterparts.

But the scientists report that these issues can be resolved early on by changing behaviors; a biggie being counseling women to breast feed longer.

Minority groups in the United States are typically pegged with higher rates of obesity; previous  studies claim Mexican Americans have a 38% obesity, blacks 34.9%, and whites 30.7%.

As a layman, I contend distribution of wealth and socio-economic status contribute to all this – sad to say.

Via HealthDay News.

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