Informing Latino childhood obesity prevention: The role of physical education policies in California

In recent years, schools have become a central focus for those looking to implement policy and environmental strategies to prevent childhood obesity at the population level. Children spend a large proportion of their life in schools, where they learn lifelong habits, including the importance of physical education and health. Physical education policies represent an opportunity to foster physical activity in schools, increase physical fitness, prevent childhood obesity and reduce the risk of disease. Compliance with physical education policies may be critical for influencing child health; however, little evidence exists on the role of such policies in preventing obesity, particularly among Latino children, one of the largest, fastest growing US population groups with a disproportionately high obesity prevalence. California offers an exceptional opportunity to evaluate the links between physical education policies, physical fitness and obesity among Latino children. State law requires schools to provide physical education to elementary school children which results in a minimum of 200 minutes every ten days. Additionally, California law requires the California Department of Education to monitor compliance with physical education policies. Capitalizing on existing data from a variety of sources and a relatively large sample of Latino children, this study examines whether compliance with California physical education requirements is linked with physical fitness and obesity among Latino children attending elementary public schools. Findings from this study, as well as implications for assessing, monitoring, reducing and preventing Latino childhood obesity will be discussed.