Study Sheds New Light On Childhood Obesity Epidemic

No surprise here, except to the experts.

Scientists may have discovered a new trend in childhood obesity, according to research published this month in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. In comparing physical activity levels among American children, researchers discovered that the most overweight and obese ethnic groups are also some of the most active. This work adds to a growing understanding of the complex relationships among physical activity, nutrition, weight management, fitness and health.

The study "Physical Activity in U.S. Youth: Effect of Race/Ethnicity, Age, Gender, and Weight Status" reports that of the three ethnic groups compared Caucasian, black and Mexican American Caucasian children are overall the least active. Black children, on the other hand, are the most active. This finding is surprising, experts say, because the highest prevalence of obesity occurs in some of the more active groups black and Mexican American children.

"Contrary to our expectations, higher levels of physical activity were not associated with lower rates of obesity across the race and ethnic groups," said Britni Belcher, M.P.H., the lead author of the study.

Of course not.

And they never will be without caloric intake control.

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