Obesity and poverty: major concerns for Montana's children.

Twenty years ago, 5 percent of American children were overweight. Today, 15 percent are, and another 15 percent are headed that way. Even very young children weigh more than they should, with about 8 percent of all preschoolers considered overweight. Nearly double that number of children between ages 6 and 11 are overweight.

Montana is no exception. Statewide, across all age groups, obesity increased from 9 percent of the population in 1990 to 19 percent in 2001. According to a national study released in January 2004, Montanans spent about $175 million last year on medical care related to obesity.

In looking at how children are faring in Montana, the 2003 National Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that nearly 6 percent of children in grades 9-12 are overweight. Just 62.3 percent of Montana high school students spent 20 minutes exercising or participating in physical activities that made them sweat and breathe hard on three or more days each week. The gender breakdown showed that only 56.2 percent of females regularly exercised or participated in physical activities.

Obesity is just one measure of childhood well-being included in the Montana KIDS COUNT 2004 report, an attempt to provide policymakers and citizens with the information needed to secure an improved future for all children. KIDS COUNT is a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and is intended to track the progress of children throughout the United States. At the national level, one of the principal activities of the KIDS COUNT program is the publication of the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book: State Profiles of Child Well-Being, which reports 10 leading indicators of child well-being in every state.

In Montana, the KIDS COUNT project is a statewide collaborative effort bringing together a wide range of organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies interested in or involved with children and families. Montana KIDS COUNT is based in the Bureau of Business and Economic Research in the School of Business Administration at The University of Montana-Missoula (www.bber.umt.edu).

Montana's 2004 Data Book takes a deeper look at the issue of childhood obesity. If Montanans do not take an interest in promoting healthy eating and increasing physical activity among youth, obesity rates here will soon be comparative to national rates. Eating too much and exercising too little can lead to obesity-related health problems, as children who are overweight are more likely to become overweight adults. They may develop Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other illnesses. Obesity in children can also lead to stress and low self-esteem. Overweight kids get teased more, can't or won't participate with their peer groups, and feel left out and excluded. They also tend to be lonelier and sadder than other kids.