School segregation contributes to childhood obesity disparities, new study finds

A new study reports that obesity disparities are larger between segregated schools than within racially integrated schools. The authors, including Professor of Public Health Emma Sanchez-Vaznaugh, published the findings in the journal Obesity. They evaluated childhood obesity disparities in publicly available data from a physical fitness test administered to fifth, seventh and ninth grade students at more than 8,900 California public schools. Disparities in obesity between Latino, Black and Filipino children compared with White children were larger between segregated schools than disparities within integrated schools.

Obesity prevention interventions targeting integrated schools with children of color or schools located in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods may be beneficial in curbing the child obesity epidemic, the researchers conclude.