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Overweight in urban, low-income, African American and Hispanic children attending Los Angeles elementary schools: research stimulating action

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Wendelin M Slusser ,
William G Cumberland ,
Ben L Browdy ,
Donna M Winham  and
Charlotte G Neumann
Wendelin M Slusser*
Affiliation:
UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
William G Cumberland
Affiliation:
UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
Ben L Browdy
Affiliation:
UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
Donna M Winham
Affiliation:
UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
Charlotte G Neumann
Affiliation:
UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Email wslusser@ucla.edu
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Abstract

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Objective

This study was undertaken to establish the prevalence and severity of nutritional problems among low-income children of elementary school age in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in order to collect baseline data to inform policy-makers.

Design and methods

A cross-sectional survey of children in 14 elementary schools was conducted from January to June, 1998. Nine hundred and nineteen children were measured and interviewed. The planning, design and data analysis were carried out in collaboration with key LAUSD policy-makers.

Results

More than 35% of the sample was classified as being at risk for overweight or overweight according to body mass index.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of children who are at risk for overweight or who are overweight in Los Angeles. This finding has triggered the development of multiple school-based intervention programmes.

Keywords

OverweightLow incomeElementary schoolChildren
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , April 2005 , pp. 141 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2005

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