Obesity rates are extremely high in low-income families

Obesity may be directly related to household income, a study in the American Journal of Public Health discovered, when analyzing adolescents in California between 2001 and 2007.

The study found the rate of obesity to be significantly higher in children from lower-income homes. The trend proved most consistent among young males, but was still evident when analyzing young females.

For the study, 17,535 children were given a survey and the data analyzed by researchers. Information collected included trends in obesity by household income and gender.

Researchers discovered obesity to be more prevalent in children from low-income households compared to children in higher-income households. Also, obesity rates increased slightly between 2001 and 2007, but the obesity rate of low-income male children increased drastically.

Experts explain these findings to be alarming. Informing people about obesity prevention is vital, and may be even more important for low-income families.