Monrovia 29th in County Childhood Obesity Ranks

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research released data this month showing that 39.8 percent of Monrovia children are obese, a rate slightly above the state average.

About 38 percent of children are obese statewide, according to the data based on information compiled for 250 cities in California. Monrovia finished below the Los Angeles County average of 41.6 percent.

The study used data from the California Department of Education’s 2010 Physical Fitness Tests to determine obesity rates in 5th, 7th, and 9th grade school children.

In a policy recommendation, the Center for Health Policy Research said fixing the state's obesity epidemic will require intervention at schools in addition to parental outreach.

"The epidemic of childhood obesity will not be solved by calling for individual behavior change alone," the center wrote. "To address this health crisis, state and local leaders must address the conditions in schools and communities that contribute to the epidemic and undermine parents’ efforts to protect their children’s health."