Low-Income Adolescents Face More Barriers to Healthy Weight

Low-income teenagers are almost three times more likely to be obese than teens from more affluent households. In a recent policy brief by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, persistent barriers to health were highlighted, including high numbers of neighborhood fast food restaurants, high sugary soda consumption and television viewing and low numbers of parks and other opportunities for physical activity. Among their recommendations, the authors (Theresa A. Hastert, Susan H. Babey, Allison L. Diamant, E. Richard Brown) urged city planners to consider zoning ordinances to regulate the number of fast–food restaurants while providing incentives to attract grocery and other stores that stock fresh fruits and vegetables. The authors also called for greater opportunities for physical activity and education, as well as campaigns to promote family dinners and discourage excessive television viewing. Click here to view the policy brief.