A study of L.A. area communities has found that children are more likely to be obese if they live in an area with high poverty rates. The report was based on information provided by the California Department of Education for the 2004 - 05 school year.

"Among the communities with a student study group of 500 or more children, Maywood, which has a much higher poverty rate in the Los Angeles County, had the highest prevalence of childhood obesity, with 37 percent of children in that city considered obese, while Manhattan Beach, an affluent area, was found to have the lowest level of childhood obesity at 4 percent."

The availability of parks and of healthier food are keys in the fight against obesity, and poorer communities have little of either. The report recommended that planning committees incorporate health-related strategies in their decisions, improve access to and safety in recreation areas, and collaborate with schools to provide more opportunities for students to engage in physical activities.

Labels: affluence, influences, poverty