ABSTRACT
Childhood obesity increased dramatically in the latter part of the 20th century, making it a leading public health issue (1). In 2009-2010, 18.2% of US children aged 6 through 19 years were obese, although national data suggest that the prevalence of childhood obesity is plateauing (2). Arkansas data support this trend, while recent New York City data indicate that childhood obesity is decreasing (3-7); however, the long-term trends and applicability to other parts of the United States are uncertain.
