Children from low-income households are nearly three times more likely to be obese as children from affluent households in California, according to a new study released on Wednesday.
Statewide, 21 per cent of teens living in low-income families are obese, compared to 8 per cent of teens from more affluent families, researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles said in the study.
"Low-income" was defined as having an income of less than 19,971 U.S. dollars for a family of four or 12,755 dollars for a family of two, according to federal poverty guidelines, while " more affluent" was defined as making more than 59,913 dollars for a family of four or 38,256 dollars for a family of two.
There are about 480,000 obese adolescents from all income levels in California, according to the report.
The researchers blamed the disparity in obesity on a higher intake of sugary soda and fast food, fewer opportunities to participate in organized sports, more television watched, and less general physical activity.
High numbers of fast-food restaurants and low numbers of parks in poorer neighborhoods contribute to the problem, they said.
"Our neighbourhoods are literally making us fat," said Susan H. Babey, one of the policy brief's authors. "We need better strategies and more thoughtful urban planning if we're going to make our towns and cities livable, not just places where we live."
When surveyed, between 46 percent and 49 percent of low-income teens reported eating fast food on the previous day, compared to 37 percent of more affluent teens.
In addition, 56 percent of low-income teens reported watching more than two hours of television per day, compared to 46 percent of more affluent teens.
The report's authors called on city planners to get behind zoning ordinances that would regulate the number of fast-food restaurants while offering incentives for grocery stores that stock fresh fruits and vegetables.
In July, the Los Angeles City Council approved a one-year moratorium on the opening of fast-food restaurants in a 32-square- mile (51-square-kilometer) portion of the city encompassing the South Los Angeles area.