Obesity Rate in Young Children Drops by Nearly Half

A federal health survey has found that the obesity rate among 2- to 5-year-old children has plummeted 43 percent over the past decade. It's the first broad decline in what's been called an epidemic and national health issue linked to higher risks for cancer, heart disease, and stroke. While earlier reports have found modest drops in certain groups of children, this report finds the trend spanning all groups of young children, and significantly so. About 8 percent of 2- to 5-year-olds were obese in 2012, down from 14 percent in 2004, reports The New York Times.