Overweight and Self - Perceptions of African American Children

contributing to the obesity epidemic: poor diet and eating habits, lack of physical activity options, and the impact of high fat and sugar food and beverage marketing targeted to children and poor communities of color (Alleyne & LaPoint, 2004; Ebbeling & Ludwig, 2008; Smith, Rhodes, Naylor, & McKay, 2008; Tirodkar & Jain, 2003). This article examines the impact of a nutrition education and physical activity intervention on the self-perceived body image, body satisfaction, academic and athletic competence, physical appearance, social acceptance and global self-worth among a group of overweight and obese 9 and 10 year-old African American children from two lowincome areas of Oakland, California.