Last Updated: April 2014

Author: Division of Maternal & Child Health, Vermont Department of Health

In 2011, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance showed that 12.9% of Vermont children ages 2-5 were obese, up slightly from 12.2% in 2010. This is among children in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The early childhood obesity prevalence in WIC has been stubbornly hovering between 12% and 14% since 2000.

The most important primary prevention strategies for early childhood obesity are exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, and the establishment of healthy patterns of eating and physical activity. Countervailing trends include time, economic, knowledge and social constraints that prevent parents of young families from fully embracing these activities.

Since 2000, several events may have influenced this trend:

Events with positive impact

• Increased public awareness of early childhood obesity as an early marker for lifelong health problems
• Increased public awareness of early childhood obesity as an early marker for lifelong health problems
• Improvement in legal supports for breastfeeding mothers at the state and national levels
• National Let’s Move campaign
• Expanded coverage for lactation supports and services in the Affordable Care Act
• Increase in the amount of the WIC cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables for children from $6.00 to $8.00
  

Events with negative impact

• Continued economic slowdown depresses wages, especially for young workers, while the costs of housing, transportation and food are rising. This makes it increasingly difficult for young families to purchase healthy food, and for new mothers to take long enough leave after birth to fully establish breastfeeding.
• Redemption of WIC cash value benefits for fruits and vegetables remained below 50% of benefits authorized.While the individual benefit is small, almost $500,000 in benefits was not used in 2013.

This indicator is part of Healthy Vermonters 2020 (the State Health Assessment) that documents the health status of Vermonters at the start of the decade and the population health indicators and goals that will guide the work of public health through 2020. Click here for more information.

The Agency of Human Services (AHS) operates in support of the Governor’s overall agenda for the state and his seven statewide priorities. Additionally, AHS’ mission and the work of its six Departments are targeted to achieve results in four strategic areas: the reduction of the lasting impacts of poverty; promotion of the health, well being and safety of communities; enhancement of program effectiveness and accountability; reform of the health system. Click here for more information.

• American Academy of Pediatrics-VT
• American Academy of Family Physicians-VT
• University of Vermont Medical School
• Vermont Child Health Improvement Program at the University of Vermont (VCHIP),
• Vermont Lactation Consultants Association
• Office of Local Health District Offices, Vermont Department of Health
• Division of Economic Services (3SquaresVT, Farm to Family), Vermont Department of Children & Families
• Child care standard setting of the Vermont Department of Children & Families
• Community breastfeeding coalitions
• Farm to Plate group
• Cornell Business Economics group

There are several evidence-based strategies that can be used to improve the prevalence of obesity in early childhood:

• Worksite policy supporting breastfeeding, and work with employers to promote the business reasons for implementing breastfeeding supports
• Establishment of lactation rooms for breastfeeding employees at all Health Department locations
• Training of Health Department staff working directly with families in motivational interviewing and other counseling skills that enable them to engage families in establishing healthy habits
• Breastfeeding peer counselor programs in 5 of 12 Health Department district offices
• Fit WIC physical activity initiative

At the Vermont Department of Health, several strategies are underway:

• Continue to promote Business Case for Breastfeeding to employers, focusing first on employers with high proportion of women of childbearing age in the workforce
• Work with VCHIP to make a Maintenance of Certification unit on breastfeeding available for physicians seeking MOC credits
• Continue to support 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding initiative for hospitals with birthing units to improve early, in-hospital breastfeeding support
• Provide direct education to WIC families about the importance of lifelong healthy habits, and continue to improve staff training so that the education will be engaging and compelling
• Work with Cornell Business Economics group to identify and implement strategies that will improve the redemption of WIC fruit and vegetable cash value benefits.

Data is updated as it becomes available and timing may vary by data source. For more information about this indicator, click here.