A study conducted by the University of California San Francisco has definitively shown that childhood obesity differ among various ethnic groups.
 
Study Details

The research was performed by Kristine A. Madsen, associate professor of pediatrics at UC San Francisco, and her colleagues.  The team looked at data gathered through mandatory fitness assessments; specifically, those of 8.3 million children from the 5th, 7th, and 8th grades.  The age range of the study participants was 8-17.

The group looked at the BMIs of the students, breaking them down as such:  BMIs of 18.5%-24.9% were considered normal, while rates of 25%-29% fell into the “overweight” category. Those with BMIs of over 30 were considered obese.

38% and 20% of the students were deemed overweight and obese, respectively. 3.6% were categorized as severely obese.

Ethnicity Breakdown

Madsen’s researchers discovered that black, Hispanic and American Indian girls were 2-3 times more likely to be obese than were non-Hispanic whites.  Additionally, the obesity rates among black girls rose from 20% in 2001 to 22% in 2008; among American Indians, there was an increase from 15%-23% during the same time frame.

Conversely, the obesity rates among non-Hispanic whites dropped slightly down to 10%.

Citing the fact that obesity is the 2nd leading lifestyle risk factor leading to mortality (behind smoking), Madsen’s assessment of the study results is that education regarding nutrition and obesity need to be “tailored” to high risk groups. 

School Involvement

Madsen also asserts that schools need to become an integral part of the process by offering nutritious fare and encouraging physical activity.

Some schools have already been working on the problem. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, some schools in the state of Arkansas are consistently trying to come up with ways to pack in more nutritious bang for the buck, when it comes to school lunches.

Specifically, some schools in the northwest part of the state are planning to serve pizza with whole wheat crust and homemade sauce.  Others are providing fresh fruit trays for students who are still hungry after eating lunch.