Study: Laguna, Newport have lowest child obesity percentages in county

According to a recent study, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach have the lowest percentages of children who are obese or overweight in Orange County, Newport Beach Patch reported Monday.

The California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA) and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research conducted the study, which was based on data from the California Department of Education’s 2010 Physical Fitness Tests. The study focused on children in fifth, seventh and ninth grades across 250 cities in the state.

In Orange County, Laguna Beach was at the bottom of the list, with 14.3% of children falling into the obese or overweight category. Laguna Beach also had the second lowest percentage statewide.

Newport Beach was the next lowest in Orange County, at 18.3%.

Other O.C. cities on the list were Irvine at 21.7%, Huntington Beach at 26.4% and Fountain Valley at 31.4%. Costa Mesa did not appear to be included in the study.

Stanton topped Orange County’s list at 51.8%, according to the study.

To learn more about the study and see how other cities throughout California fared, click here.

--Kelly Parker