By Mariel S. Clark
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — Childhood obesity is increasing in New York's poorer neighborhoods, including East and Central Harlem, but the trend could be brought under control if the city made a stronger, more coordinated effort, a report released Tuesday said.
The report by researchers at City University of New York along with London Metropolitan University examined the causes of and proposed solutions to childhood obesity in New York City and London.
“Our report shows that while childhood obesity affects all groups, it is becoming increasingly concentrated among low income children and neighborhoods in both cities,” Nicholas Freudenberg, a CUNY professor and co-author of the study, said in a statement.
Nearly 40 percent of New York public school children grades K-8 are overweight or obese, according to Health Department data. Among teens, a third of those living in lower income neighborhoods, including East and Central Harlem, were overweight or obese compared to a quarter for the rest of the city, the report stated.
In both cities, poverty, unhealthy food advertising and a difficulty bringing city agencies together to combat the issue have contributed to the obesity epidemic, the report said.
To reverse the trend the report made several recommendations including using zoning to limit access to unhealthy choices and increase availability of healthy foods as well as promoting spaces where New Yorkers could get exercise.
