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Table 1 Characteristics of WIC participating children in Los Angeles County, California (N = 148,634)

From: The neighborhood food environment modifies the effect of the 2009 WIC food package change on childhood obesity in Los Angeles County, California

Individual Characteristics

Boys

Girls

Old Package

N = 43,546

New Package

N = 32,195

Old Package

N = 41,686

New Package

N = 31,207

Initial WHZa, mean ± SD

0.49 ± 1.51

0.37 ± 1.63

0.47 ± 1.86

0.37 ± 1.52

Age (y) at initial WHZ, mean ± SD

0.30 ± 0.35

0.27 ± 0.32

0.30 ± 0.35

0.28 ± 0.32

Obese at age 4 (y), n (%)

9098 (20.89)

5835 (18.12)

7250 (17.39)

5092 (16.32)

Race/ethnicity, n (%)

 Asian

1646 (3.79)

946 (2.94)

1538 (3.70)

903 (2.89)

 African American

2003 (4.62)

1575 (4.89)

1857 (4.47)

1573 (5.04)

 Hispanic

38,473 (88.67)

28,396 (88.21)

36,976 (89.03)

27,504 (88.15)

 White

1218 (2.81)

738 (2.29)

1113 (2.68)

674 (2.16)

 Other

51 (0.12)

535 (1.66)

46 (0.11)

547 (1.75)

Language Preference, n (%)

 English

13,887 (31.89)

15,703 (48.77)

13,431 (32.22)

15,084 (48.34)

 Spanish

28,539 (65.54)

15,770 (48.98)

27,279 (65.44)

15,456 (49.53)

 Other

1120 (2.57)

722 (2.24)

976 (2.34)

667 (2.14)

Maternal Education, n (%)

  < HS degree

27,250 (62.58)

16,300 (50.63)

26,161 (62.76)

15,885 (50.90)

 HS degree

12,265 (28.17)

11,481 (35.66)

11,720 (28.11)

11,020 (35.31)

  > HS degree

4031 (9.26)

4414 (13.71)

3805 (9.13)

4302 (13.79)

Household Income, n (%)

  < 50% FPL

8237 (18.92)

9121 (28.33)

8073 (19.37)

8730 (27.97)

 50–100% FPL

21,544 (49.47)

15,471 (48.05)

20,558 (49.32)

15,164 (48.59)

  > 100% FPL

13,765 (31.61)

7603 (23.62)

13,055 (31.32)

7313 (23.43)

Neighborhood Characteristicsb

 Healthy outletsc per sq. mi, mean ± SD

3.33 ± 2.54

2.99 ± 2.39

3.33 ± 2.54

2.97 ± 2.39

 Unhealthy outletsd per sq. mi, mean ± SD

9.97 ± 6.50

9.46 ± 5.73

9.97 ± 6.47

9.41 ± 5.69

 Poverty percent, mean ± SD

22.60 ± 11.17

25.93 ± 11.55

22.65 ± 11.15

25.92 ± 11.63

 Minority percent, mean ± SD

89.56 ± 14.02

89.66 ± 13.73

89.54 ± 14.01

89.63 ± 13.84

 HS grad percent, mean ± SD

58.54 ± 15.74

62.04 ± 15.36

58.52 ± 15.70

62.07 ± 15.42

 Residents per sq. mi, mean ± SD

18,297 ± 11,910

17,922 ± 11,894

18,295 ± 11,907

17,836 ± 11,790

  1. FPL federal poverty level, HS high school, MI mile, SD standard deviation, SQ square, WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, WHZ weight-for-height z-score, y years
  2. aInitial WHZ corresponds to the first length and weight measurement for each participant
  3. bNeighborhood was defined as the census tract of residence + a 0.5-mile buffer for food environment variables and as the census tract of residence for social environment variables
  4. cHealthy outlets included supermarkets, chain and independent grocery stores and fruit/vegetable vendors
  5. dUnhealthy outlets included fast food, liquor stores and chain and independent convenience stores
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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