One child in four in in New York City's public elementary schools is obese, with the rate of obesity as high as 31 percent among Hispanic school children, according to the city Health Department.

The survey conducted in May of nearly 3,000 public school pupils from kindergarten through fifth grade found that an additional 19 percent of the children were overweight, making a total of 43 percent weighing more than recommended for their height and age.

Obesity rates for other groups were 14 percent for Asian school children, 16 percent for whites, 23 percent for blacks, and 36 percent for Hispanic boys.

Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden termed the results a calamity in the making.

"What's changed is the increased sedentary lifestyle, the supersizing fast-food, video game culture, and it's leading to a real epidemic," he said.

In an effort to address the growing problem, the New York City Education Department said last month that it would reduce the fat content in school cafeteria food and ban candy, soda and other sugary snacks from school vending machines.

Other sources: NYC Health Department, New York Times