2005 Georgia Data Summary: 
OBESITY in CHILDREN and YOUTH 
 
Obese children are more likely to become obese adults. 
 
Obesity in children and youth is a major public health problem in Georgia. 
 
Percentages of obese children and youth in Georgia  10,000 (12%) children aged 2-4 in the Women, 
Infant, and Children (WIC) program are obese.  51,000 (14%) middle school students are obese. 
 46,000 (11%) high school students are obese 
 
Percent of children and youth who are obese* in Georgia, 2003 
 
20 
 
Goal: 5% 
 
15 
 
12 
 
14 
 
11 
 
10 
 
Percent 
 
 Only 5% of children and youth are expected to be obese based on a reference population. 
Poor diet and physical inactivity are reasons for the rise in childhood obesity. 
 
5 
0 WIC Children Middle School High School 
*Definition of obese children and youth: BMI-for-age 95thpercentile 
 
 Only 2 in 3 middle and high school students in Georgia are vigorously active.  Approximately half of Georgia's middle school and high school students watch 3 or more hours of TV on a school day. 
 Only 1 in 5 high school students in Georgia eats the recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily. 
 
Environments and policies influence health behavior in children. 
 
Schools  Only 3 in 10 middle and high school students in Georgia attend daily physical education classes.  Few middle (5%) and high schools (10%) in Georgia have a policy to offer fruits and vegetables at school settings.  Unhealthy foods such as chocolate candy, high-fat salty snacks and soft drinks are readily available in most middle 
(56-64%) and high (77-80%) school vending machines. 
 
Communities  Few children (13%) in Georgia, who live 1 mile or less from school, walk to school.  Traffic is the most common barrier to walking or biking to school among children who live one mile or less from 
school in Georgia. 
 
Hospital costs due to obesity-related diseases in children are rising rapidly. 
 
 Hospital costs due to obesity-related diseases in children increased from $35 million during 1979-1981 to $127 million during 1997-1999 nationwide. 
 
Obese children are at increased risk for other medical conditions. 
 
 Obese children are at increased risk for: - Hypertension - Asthma - Sleep apnea - Diabetes - Decreased well being (low self-esteem) 
 
Data sources:  2003 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System 
 2003 Georgia Student Health Survey Date updated: December 2005 Publication number: DPH05.123H 
Visit http://www.health.state.ga.us/epi/cdiee/obesity.asp for more information on the prevalence of obesity in Georgia. 
 
Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health  2 Peachtree Street, NW  Atlanta, GA 30303  (404) 657-3103  gdphinfo@dhr.state.ga.us  http://health.state.ga.us