LTSC Home Pressroom Press Releases PREVALENCE OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY UNMASKED IN SUB ETHNIC GROUPS
PREVALENCE OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY UNMASKED IN SUB ETHNIC GROUPS
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marc Loresto
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213.473.1620                                                                


PREVALENCE OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY UNMASKED IN SUB ETHNIC GROUPS

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 7, 2008) – Studies will be revealed on the health disparities of groups within the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community in Los Angeles County. The broad category of the API community often conceals the smaller issues of certain ethnic groups such as the rising frequency of childhood obesity particularly found in the Filipino, Japanese and Pacific Islander communities.

"This event is historic, in a sense, because disaggregated API data is so rare.  This kind of information is crucial to understanding true health trends in our community,” says Jessica Lim, the project coordinator of the Asian & Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance (APIOPA) one of the guiding organizations of the study.

Analysis was conducted by the California Department of Education targeting all public school API students in grades 5, 7 and 9 on a series of physical activities in a Physical Fitness Training program.

Data was collected between 2006 and 2007 and was used to track the prevalence of childhood obesity. APIOPA and the UCLA School of Public Health provided input and guidance for the study.

The results will be presented on Friday, November 7, 2008 from 2 – 4pm at the Public Health Auditorium, 5555 Ferguson Drive, Commerce, CA 90022. For more info contact Jessica Lim at 213-473-3022 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

APIOPA is a collaboration of community-based organizations and government agencies committed to improving the health of API communities in LA County.  Programs include but are not limited to starting community action groups, that change nutrition and physical activity environments to reduce obesity rates.