Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) — Obesity among children from lower earning families rose compared to their well-off counterparts, according to a study that suggests the U.S. weight epidemic may be another sign of a growing divide between rich and poor.

Using data from two national surveys of children ages 12 to 17 years old, researchers from Harvard University and Insead analyzed parents' level of education as shorthand for socioeconomic status, a measure of education, income and occupation. The study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science found that children from less educated families exercised less and didn't cut their calories as much.

Though the prevalence of childhood obesity has leveled off since a decade ago, and children overall are consuming fewer calories and are more physically active, those gains aren't evenly distributed. Obesity among children whose parents are college-educated has dropped, while obesity among those in less- educated families continues to increase, the study said.