VOA慢速：研究表明美国儿童的肥胖率正在上升

Study Suggests Obesity Increasing Among US Children

慢速 | 高考偏难 | 488词 | 4min28s

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. What has the new study published in Pediatrics revealed about childhood obesity in America?

A. It has remained constant over the past decade.

B. There is a decrease in severe obesity among preschool-aged children.

C. Severe obesity is becoming more common in young children.

D. Most children aged 2 to 4 have a healthy weight.

Q2. What change was observed in the rate of severe obesity among children in the WIC program from 2010 to 2020?

A. It steadily increased each year.

B. It first decreased and then increased again by 2020.

C. It remained unchanged throughout the period.

D. It decreased significantly due to policy changes.

Q3. What is the main finding that the study on severe obesity among preschool-aged children in the WIC program presents?

A. It suggests that severe obesity rates have increased in certain states and demographics.

B. It shows that healthcare policies have effectively reduced childhood obesity.

C. It indicates that childhood obesity is no longer a health concern in the U.S.

D. It proves that physical activity is the sole factor influencing childhood obesity.

Q4. According to the text, why is there concern about the irreversibility of severe obesity in young children?

A. It typically results in immediate health problems.

B. The damage caused is nearly impossible to undo.

C. Most treatment options are ineffective for children.

D. Policy changes have not been aimed at this age group.

Q5. What does Dr. Sarah Armstrong suggest might be causing obesity rates to drop among children in poverty?

A. Changes in the distribution of the WIC program.

B. A significant drop in saturated fat consumption.

C. The improved economic conditions of the past decade.

D. The growing daily hardships faced by families living in poverty.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

Study Suggests Obesity Increasing Among US Children

(Q1) A new study adds to evidence that obesity is becoming more common in young children in America. The study appeared in the medical publication Pediatrics. The findings are similar to other national data, which suggests around 2.5 percent of all preschool-aged children were severely obese during the same period. One of the study's writers, Heidi Blanck of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said "We were doing well and now we see this upward trend. We are dismayed at seeing these findings." Dismayed is a term that means very worried or disappointed.

obesity n. 肥胖

obese adj. 臃肿的；虚胖的；病态肥胖的

The study looked at children ages 2 to 4 who took part in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. The program gives healthy foods and other services to preschool-aged children in low-income families. The children were weighed and measured. (Q2) The researchers found that 2.1 percent of kids in the program were severely obese in 2010. Six years later, the rate had dropped to 1.8 percent. But by 2020, it was 2 percent. That amounts to about 33,000 of more than 1.6 million kids in the WIC program. (Q3) The study showed major increases in 20 states. California's was the highest at 2.8 percent. There also were large increases in some racial and ethnic groups. The highest rate, about 2.8 percent, was among Hispanic children.

Hispanic children 西班牙裔儿童

(Q4) Experts say severe obesity at a very early age is nearly irreversible — meaning the damage is nearly impossible to undo. Severe obesity is strongly linked with health problems and an early death. It is not clear why the increase occurred, Blanck said. When WIC obesity rates dropped, some experts suggested 2009 policy changes might be responsible. Those changes took out juice from infant food packages, provided less saturated fat, and tried to make it easier for people to buy fruits and vegetables. The package has not changed. (Q5) But "the daily hardships that families living in poverty are facing may be harder today than they were 10 years ago, and the slight increases in the WIC package just weren't enough," said Dr. Sarah Armstrong, a Duke University childhood obesity researcher. The researchers faced difficulties. The number of kids in WIC declined in the past ten years. And the study included 2020, the year the COVID-19 pandemic hit. At the time, fewer parents brought their children in to see doctors. That reduced the amount of complete information available. Despite its limitations, it was a "very well-done study," said Deanna Hoelscher, a childhood obesity researcher at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. She added, "It gives you a hint of what's going on."

irreversible adj. 无法复原（或挽回）的；不能倒转的

food package 包装食品

What has happened since 2020 is not yet known. Some small studies have suggested an increase in childhood obesity — especially during the pandemic. During the pandemic, kids were kept home from schools. Their eating and bedtime schedules were changed and physical activity decreased. "We are thinking it's going to get worse," Hoelscher said.

I'm John Russell.

Part III. KEY

Q1. C. 细节题。文章提到：“A new study adds to evidence that obesity is becoming more common in young children in America.” 中文翻译为：“一项新研究增加了证据，表明美国幼儿肥胖现象胖变得越来越普遍。” 根据这段内容，可以确定答案为C。

Q2. B. 细节题。文章提到：“The researchers found that 2.1 percent of kids in the program were severely obese in 2010. Six years later, the rate had dropped to 1.8 percent. But by 2020, it was 2 percent.” 中文翻译为：“研究人员发现，该项目中有2.1%的儿童在2010年严重肥胖。六年后，该比率下降到1.8%。但到了2020年，又回升至2%。” 因此答案为B。

Q3. A. 主旨题。文章描述了研究发现：“The study showed major increases in 20 states. California's was the highest at 2.8 percent. There also were large increases in some racial and ethnic groups. The highest rate, about 2.8 percent, was among Hispanic children.” 中文翻译为：“研究显示，在20个州出现了重大增长。加利福尼亚州的增长最高，为2.8%。在某些种族和族裔群体中也出现了大幅增长。其中西班牙裔儿童的比率最高，约为2.8%。” 这表明研究的主要发现是严重肥胖率在某些州和人群中有所增加，因此答案为A。

Q4. B. 细节题。文章提到：“Experts say severe obesity at a very early age is nearly irreversible — meaning the damage is nearly impossible to undo.” 中文翻译为：“专家称，在非常小的年龄出现的严重肥胖现象几乎是不可逆的——这意味着造成的损害几乎无法挽回。” 因此答案为B。

Q5. D. 推理题。文章提到：“ ‘the daily hardships that families living in poverty are facing may be harder today than they were 10 years ago, and the slight increases in the WIC package just weren't enough,’ said Dr. Sarah Armstrong.” 中文翻译为：“阿姆斯特朗博士说：‘生活在贫困中的家庭每天面临的困难可能比10年前更大，而WIC包装食品中的微小增量根本不够。’” 这表明她认为家庭面临的日常困难增加可能导致儿童肥胖率降低，因此答案为D。

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