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A new policy brief released by the Center for Health Policy Research at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) suggests that teenagers from low-income households are three times more likely to be obese than teens from higher-income families, United Press International reports. According to the brief, 21 percent of teenagers residing in low-income households, defined as a family of four earning less than $19,971 per year or a family of two earning less than $12,755 per year, are obese. By contrast, only 8 percent of teens from higher-income families, defined as a family of four earning at least $59,913 per year or a family of two earning at least $38,265 per year, are obese. The researchers suggest that barriers to healthy behaviors and food options, coupled with the high number of fast-food restaurants and fewer opportunities for physical activity in low-income areas, are contributing to disparities in the obesity epidemic. For example, between 67 percent and 71 percent of low-income teens reported drinking one serving of soda the previous day, compared to just 55 percent of higher-income teens. The report also finds that about 37 percent of teens from low-income households participate in organized team sports, compared to nearly one-half of higher-income teens. To address such disparities, the researchers call for providing more opportunities for physical activity, including increasing access to green space. The researchers also urge city planners to alter existing zoning laws to limit the number of fast-food restaurants and to provide incentives to attract outlets that stock fresh produce (UPI, 12/11/08; UCLA release, 12/10/08).