Hudson Valley Schools Ranked by Obesity Levels

Is your child's school on the top of the list? Some Hudson Valley school districts have an alarming percentage of students who are obese.

The number of children who suffer from obesity in NY state has tripled over the past three decades. After tobacco use, obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the country.  Overweight children are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, several forms of cancer, asthma and other disorders.

According to the CDC 17% American children suffer from obesity. Here in the Hudson Valley, however, that number is actually higher in 21 out of our 29 school districts.

Statistics released by The New York State Department of Health show the obesity rate for students in the Newburgh City school district at 28.20%, which is over 11% higher than the national average. Northeast Central Schools in Dutchess County, although a smaller school district, has over 25% of students who are classified as obese. Kingston, the City of Poughkeepsie and Monticello schools make up the rest of the top five.

There are some local schools that show students as being healthier than the national average, with obesity rates well below the rest of the country. Arlington, Spackenkill, Onteora, Ellenville, Hyde Park, Rhinebeck and Pawling all have less than 17% of students who are obese. New Paltz had the lowest rate, with just under 11% of students falling into the category.

The statistics are taken from a 2012-2014 survey and there are indications that the numbers may have risen even higher since then. We want to know what you think about these findings. Are you concerned about the number of Hudson Valley children who are suffering from obesity? What do you think can be done about it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.