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Recent government data found that twenty percent of black and hispanic children ages 2 to 19 are obese, while only fifteen percent of white children in that same age category struggle with obesity. 

These findings have led to numerous additional studies aimed towards finding out why obesity tends to affect minorities more than their Caucasian counterparts.

A new study published in the medical journal ‘Pediatrics’ helps explain the excessively high obesity rates in minority children.

The study questioned approximately 2,000 Boston area mothers and examined over a dozen factors that can increase a child’s chances of becoming obese.  Almost every factor was more common in black and Hispanic children than in white children.

The risk factors examined included: mothers smoking during pregnancy, unusually rapid weight gain in young infants, starting solid food before 4 months, mothers’ routinely pressuring young kids to eat more, children sleeping less than 12 hours daily between 6 months and 2 years, and allowing very young kids to have sugary drinks, fast food, and allowing children to have televisions in their rooms.  Family income is often a factor, but so are cultural customs and beliefs, the study authors said.

Again, minorities were at higher risk than whites for nearly every factor.

In addition, the study found that many of the factors related to obesity were more common in low income, less educated families, including whites.

There is good news.  Almost every risk factor for childhood obesity can be changed, but ongoing educational programs must be developed to spread the word.  In most cases, a child’s health lies in the hands of mothers who need to be informed and educated about living healthy lifestyles and passing that information to their children.

SOURCE:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100301/ap_on_bi_ge/us_med_kids_and_obesity