Over 50% of Kids in South Gate Are Overweight, Study Finds

Over half of children from South Gate are overweight or obese, according to a new study from the University of California-Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.

The rate in cities within Los Angeles Country varied immensely, but the average rate of overweight and obese children was 41.6 percent. In South Gate, 51.3 percent of children are overweight or obese.

The study, which was released early this month, was done using the results from the California Department of Education’s 2010 Physical Fitness Tests. The UCLA researchers examined the reports of 5th, 7th and 9th grade students from schools from more than 250 Californian cities.

In the report, South Gate ranked as the fifth city with the highest percentage of obese and overweight children.

Huntington Park scored the highest percentage with 53% of its children being overweight or obese, while Manhattan Beach had the lowest percentage with 11.3%.

Other neighboring cities also scored above 40%.

Cudahy obtained a 49.5%; Paramount a 46.5%; Los Angeles a 45.2%; and finally Downey with a 40.1%, according to the report.

The study found that children of color are disproportionally affected. Hispanic, African American, and Native Americans children have higher rates of obesity than whites.

Read the complete report attached to this story in PDF Format.

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