40% of CA 5th Graders are Overweight or Obese, 2015 Data Show
Two of every five 5th graders in California’s public schools are overweight or obese, according to 2015 data from the California Department of Education that are now available on Kidsdata.
All California public school students in grades five, seven, and nine are required to take the Physical Fitness Test, which includes an assessment of body composition. Students are considered overweight or obese if their body composition scores reach beyond the Healthy Fitness Zone, which represents a level of fitness that offers protection against the diseases that result from sedentary living.
Not only are the percentages of students who are overweight or obese high in California, the data reveal substantial disparities between ethnicities. 56% of Pacific Islander 5th graders for example, were considered overweight or obese—more than double the percentage of Asian American 5th graders.
The data also vary widely by county. In some counties, less than 20% of 5th graders were considered overweight or obese, but in one, the percentage reached above 50%.
Nationwide, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years. Today, about one third of children ages 2-19 are overweight or obese in the U.S. Overweight children are at higher risk for a range of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, asthma, and some types of cancer; they also are more likely to stay overweight or obese as adults.
California has been a leader in advancing policies to combat childhood overweight and obesity, from banning soft drinks and unhealthy food in schools to requiring nutrition labeling in chain restaurants. Yet the state continues to battle an obesity epidemic among children. Reducing childhood obesity requires policies that promote equitable access to safe places to play and exercise, frequent opportunities for physical activity in and out of school and affordable healthy foods and beverages. Public policy can make a difference by changing the environment in which children make food choices, live, go to school, and play.
Related Data:
Weight
Physical Fitness
Helpful Links
California Project LEAN, California Department of Public Health & Public Health Institute
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Overweight and Obesity
Healthy Eating Research, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Let’s Move! America's Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids
Increasing Socioeconomic Disparities in Adolescent Obesity, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Socioeconomic Status and the Health of Youth: A Multi-level, Multi-domain Approach to Conceptualizing Pathways, Psychological Bulletin
Kidsdata Tip
Have a question about something you see on Kidsdata? We’re here to help. Contact the Kidsdata team.
|
Students Who Are Overweight or Obese, by Grade Level
Year: 2015
|
