New State Scorecards Compare ECE Regulations With Obesity Prevention Standards

Millions of young children attend licensed early care and education (ECE) programs each week in the United States, making ECEs an important setting for teaching healthy habits early in life. High-quality ECE programming can have a positive impact on a child’s social-emotional wellbeing, educational achievement, health, and socioeconomic outcomes later in life. By embedding science-based obesity prevention standards into ECE policies and practices, states can equitably invest in a healthier future for their youngest children.

CDC’s State Licensing Scorecards offer one way for public health practitioners, ECE advocates, and parents to understand how well their state’s child care licensing regulations support science-based, healthy eating and physical activity standards.