The latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicated child obesity in the U.S. may be leveling off.

Although the number of obese or overweight young Americans between the ages 2 to 19 rose to 32 percent for the years 2003-2006 from 29 percent in 1999, the increase is not statistically significant.

 

The heavyweights among the 23 million overweight or obese children ballooned to 16 percent in 2003-2006 from 14 percent in 1999-2000.

The rise may seem very moderate, but when compared to 1980 levels of only 5 percent to 7 percent, the number of obese kids is still a big health burden.

The NCHS data is based on a survey of 8,165 children and adolescents who comprised the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2003-2006. The data is considered premium grade because the weights of the subjects were actually taken by the pollsters, instead of being based on self reporting.

The previous NHANES survey covering the years 2003-2004 said 17 percent of American youths were overweight.