W.Va. children's health improves, obesity declines - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

W.Va. children's health improves, obesity declines

Posted: Updated:
  • Local NewsLocal News

  • Family escapes fire in East Bank

    Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:18:28 GMT
    Three people were inside this burning home but managed to get out safely.
    Firefighters are battling a massive fire in East Bank in Kanawha County. A house on Walnut Street went up in flames around 5:15 a.m. Firefighters said two people were home at the time but managed to
    Three escape massive fire in a home on Walnut Street in Kanawha County
  • Health Care

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:14 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:14:28 GMT
    The Warren T. Anderson, M.D. Center for Cardiac Care features three cardiac catheterization laboratories, 14 pre- and post-procedure rooms, a stress lab and two nuclear cameras.
    The Warren T. Anderson, M.D. Center for Cardiac Care features three cardiac catheterization laboratories, 14 pre- and post-procedure rooms, a stress lab and two nuclear cameras.
  • Sunday, May 19 2013 7:00 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:00:45 GMT
    CHARLESTON, WV (AP) — A pregnancy center that counsels women not to have abortions has moved next door to a women's health facility in Charleston that provides abortions. Woman's Choice offers free counseling
    A pregnancy center that counsels women not to have abortions has moved next door to a women's health facility in Charleston that provides abortions.
  • Saturday, May 18 2013 11:26 AM EDT2013-05-18 15:26:31 GMT
    Old Colony Realtors congratulated CAMC on meeting their fundraising goal of $15 million for the new CAMC David Lee Cancer Center. "Through our gift of $25,000 to this campaign for the new cancer center
    Old Colony Realtors congratulated CAMC on meeting their fundraising goal of $15 million for the new CAMC David Lee Cancer Center.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A statewide screening program shows that the health of West Virginia children is improving.

Figures from West Virginia University's CARDIAC program show that 27.8 percent of fifth-graders screened in the 2011-2012 school year were obese. That's down from 28.9 percent in the 2010-2111 school year.

During the same period, the number of fifth-graders with high blood pressure fell from 24 percent to 20.3 percent. The abnormal cholesterol rate fell from 26.1 percent to 23.5 percent.

The kindergarten obesity rate declined from 17.5 percent to 13.6 percent.

However, the second-grade obesity rate rose a point to 24.5 percent.

CARDIAC program director Dr. Bill Neal tells the Sunday Gazette-Mail (http://bit.ly/114VUsB ) that the numbers are encouraging. But he says the state cannot get complacent.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.