Trends in Early Childhood Obesity in a Large, Urban School District in the Southwest from 2007 to 2014

Introduction Although recent studies indicate that childhood obesity and severe obesity may be declining, few have reported on prevalence trends in early childhood or differences in trends across sociodemographic groups. The primary aim of this study was to report on early childhood obesity and severe obesity prevalence trends from 2007–2014 in a diverse, metropolitan school district in the Southwest and determine whether these trends vary by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status and disability status. Methods We analyzed height, weight and demographic data from 43,113 kindergarteners enrolled in a large, urban school district in New Mexico for 7 school years (2007–2008 through 2013–2014). Adjusted odds of obesity and severe obesity were calculated to assess changes in prevalence for non‐Hispanic White, Hispanic, American Indian, free‐reduced price lunch participants and non‐participants, and students with and without disabilities. Logistic regression models were used to test for interactions between school year and sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status and disability status on obesity prevalence. Results There was an overall decline in the adjusted prevalence of both obesity and severe obesity from 13.1% and 2.4% in 2007–2008 to 12.0% and 1.2% in 2013–2014, respectively. There were no statistically significant interactions between adjusted prevalence of obesity over time and any of the sociodemographic subgroups. However, obesity prevalence declined more among American Indian students than either Hispanic or non‐Hispanic White students. Conclusion Obesity and severe obesity has levelled off overall and across all sociodemographic subpopulations and disparities may be decreasing between American Indian and non‐Hispanic White kindergarten students in the Southwest.