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Chronic disease, which is linked to unhealthy nutrition environments, is highly prevalent in Guam. The nutrition environment was assessed in 114 stores and 63 restaurants in Guam. Stores had limited availability of some healthier foods such as lean ground meat (7.5%) and 100% whole-wheat bread (11.4%), while fruits (81.0%) and vegetables (94.8%) were more commonly available; 43.7% of restaurants offered a healthy entrée or main dish salad, 4.1% provided calorie information, and 15.7% denoted healthier choices on menus. Improving the nutrition environment could help customers make healthier choices.

Background The Government of Guam passed Public Law 28-87, which established the collection of child Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements in the Guam Department of Education (GDOE). This paper aimed to analyze the BMI data and report the childhood obesity prevalence on Guam. Methods Secondary analysis was performed on a repeated cross-section of 106,827 children in the GDOE from 2010 to 2014. Age- and sex-specific prevalence estimates and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) by weight status were calculated for each year. Test for trends in the high weight status were performed. Results The childhood obesity prevalence was 23.1% (95% CI, 22.9%–23.4%). It declined from 23.6% (95% CI, 23.1%–24.1%) in 2010–2011 to 22.6% (95% CI, 22.1%–23.0%) in 2013–2014 (p=.007). Conclusion Childhood obesity on Guam has declined, though it remains higher than the U.S. Mainland. Continued BMI data collection is needed to monitor childhood obesity and measure the impact of Public Law 28-87.

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