Colorado’s childhood obesity rates are down for kids who take part in a program that helps teach low-income parents about proper diet and nutrition.
That program is known as WIC, the government-funded nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children.
The percentage of overweight and obese children ages 2 to 4 participating in the program dropped from 22.9 percent in 2012 to 21.2 percent in 2015.
Nearly 90,000 women and young children participate in the program statewide. WIC provides nutrition education, healthy food, breastfeeding support and other services.
Colorado has ranked near the top in the nation for leanest adults. But its childhood obesity rate has generally fallen in the middle of the pack.
Editor's Note: This story originally stated there was a 7.4 percent drop in overweight and obese children ages 2 to 4 participating in WIC. We have clarified this to show the actual percentage change from 2012 to 2015.
