21.8 Percent of South Pas Children Overweight

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research released data this month showing that 21.8 percent of South Pasadena children are overweight or obese, a rate lower than the county average of 41.6 percent.

About 38 percent of children are overweight or obese statewide, according to the data based on information compiled for 250 cities in California.

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. (See attached.)

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."

About 39.8 percent of Monrovia children are obese or overweight, 53 percent of children in Huntington Park and 11.3 percent in Manhattan Beach.

Patch Asks: How do you foster healthy eating in your home?