Background: National WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) data indicate a decrease in obesity prevalence among most low-income preschool-aged children. Though racial/ethnic disparities exist, studies examining obesity trends among various racial/ethnic groups are lacking. The aims of this study were to identify racial/ethnic disparities in obesity among low-income preschool children in Oklahoma and describe trends in obesity prevalence among four major racial/ethnic groups.
Methods: Subjects included 218,486 children 2-4 years of age who participated in WIC in Oklahoma from 2005 to 2010. Logistic regression was performed to identify disparities and trends in obesity among American Indian, Hispanic, White, and African American children.
Results: Racial/ethnic disparities in obesity were evident, with prevalence highest in Hispanics and lowest in African Americans. Obesity increased among girls for all racial/ethnic groups from 2005 to 2010 (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01, 1.03). Among boys, obesity increased in African Americans (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01, 1.07), but remained stable in other racial/ethnic groups.
Conclusions: In Oklahoma, in contrast to recent national studies, obesity is increasing among certain groups of low-income preschool children. These findings suggest geographic diversity in obesity and that state-specific obesity surveillance is important to help target interventions to those at highest risk.