Is your child maintaining a healthy weight? The New Mexico Department of Health urges families to prioritize healthy eating and regular physical activity as a state report shows rising childhood obesity rates.
A recent NMDOH report indicates that obesity rates among elementary school students increased in 2025. The department emphasizes that findings underscore the need for sustained investment in children’s health and physical activity.
Based on body mass index measurements of nearly 4,600 students at 49 schools in 15 counties in 2025 fall, the report found:
- Obesity rates among kindergarteners rose from 17.3% to 18.6 %,
- Obesity rates among third graders increased from 24.1 % to 26.7%,
- Boys’ obesity rates were 5.4% higher than girls.
“Obesity is a complex, serious public health concern with multiple contributing factors, including poverty, food insecurity, and a lack of infrastructure for safe physical activity,” said Gina DeBlassie, cabinet secretary for NMDOH.
“A trend we see is obesity rates rising significantly between kindergarten and third grade, which is why NMDOH continues to invest in developing healthy eating and activity habits in early childhood and elementary school,” she added.
State Interventions to Address Childhood Obesity
NMDOH’s Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Program (ONAPA) partners with about 530 state and local organizations and community coalitions in six counties and one Tribal community. It also works with 83 preschools statewide to expand healthy eating and physical activity opportunities.
ONAPA and its partners implement sustainable policy, systems, and environmental changes. These efforts follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) best practices for preventing obesity.
Meanwhile, Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) coordinators work in schools to promote healthier lifestyles. They establish salad bars, edible gardens, nutrition education, and walking, biking, and farm-to-school programs.
Additionally, they integrate locally grown produce into snacks and meals through the NM Grown program in participating schools. Coordinators also promote shared schoolyards, healthy fundraisers, the Healthy Kids 5-2-1-O Challenge, the Walk and Roll to School, and more.
Healthy Kids 5-2-1-O Challenge
NMDOH introduced the Healthy Kids 5-2-1-O Challenge, highlighting that every day is a new chance to improve kids’ health habits.
- 5 – Eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day. Keep cut fruits and veggies in the fridge for handy, healthy snacks.
- 2 – Limit screen time to less than 2 hours a day. Choose TV shows or computer games in advance so children plan their screen time.
- 1 – Be active for at least 1 hour each day. Plan a safe walking route with your child to a school, park, or nearby spot.
- 0 – Drink plenty of H2O every day. Make water your first drink of choice! Give your child a water bottle to carry so it’s ready when thirst strikes.
Each year, NMDOH’s Statewide Childhood Obesity Surveillance System selects 70 public elementary schools across the state using stratified cluster sampling. Teams then collect height and weight measurements from kindergarten and third-grade students at those selected schools. Measurements are collected by trained nursing students and volunteers from August to November using a standard protocol.