Disordered Weight Control Behaviors in Early Adolescent Boys and Girls of Color: An Under-Recognized Factor in the Epidemic of Childhood Overweight (original) (raw)
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Ethnic/racial differences in weight-related concerns and behaviors among adolescent girls and boys
Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2002
Objective: To compare weight-related concerns and behaviors across ethnicity/race among a population-based sample of adolescent boys and girls. Methods: The study population included 4746 adolescents from urban public schools in the state of Minnesota who completed surveys and anthropometric measurements as part of Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a population-based study focusing on eating patterns and weight concerns among teenagers. Main outcome measures included measured body mass index (BMI), weight-related concerns (perceived weight status, weight disparity, body satisfaction and attitudes about weight control) and weight-related behaviors (general/specific weight control behaviors and binge eating). Results: In comparison to White girls, African American girls tended to report fewer weight-related concerns/behaviors, while Hispanic, Asian American and Native American girls tended to report similar or more concerns/behaviors. Among boys, weightrelated concerns/behaviors were equally or more prevalent among all non-Whites than among Whites. In particular, African American and Asian American boys were at greater risk for potentially harmful weight-related concerns/behaviors than White boys. Conclusions: Weight-related concerns and behaviors are prevalent among adolescents, regardless of their ethnic/racial background, indicating a need for prevention and treatment efforts that reach adolescents of different ethnic backgrounds. However, ethnic differences demonstrate a need for ensuring that the specific needs of different groups are addressed in the development of such interventions. D
Obesity Research, 1997
FIELD, ALISON E, GRAHAM A COLDITZ, KAREN E PETERSON. Racidethnic and gender differences in concern with weight and in bulimic behaviors among adolescents. Obes Res. 1997;5:447-454. This study examined cross-sectional gender and r a c i d ethnic differences in bulimic behaviors among adolescents. Subjects were 704 male and 621 female students at a large urban public high school in the Northeast. Approximately 61% of the girls and 43% of the boys reported trying to lose weight or maintain their current weight; 2.0% of the students reported using laxatives or vomiting to control their weight. The use of these behaviors to control weight was only slightly more common among girls than boys (2.7% vs. 1.4%,p=O.l). Although more black than white girls used laxatives or vomiting to control weight (odds ratio [OR]=11.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-95.3), there were no raciayethnic differences in these behaviors among boys. However, Hispanic boys were twice as likely as white boys to binge eat at least monthly (OR=2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.6). Our results suggest that bulimic behaviors affect male and female adolescents from a variety of raciayethnic backgrounds. In addition, in contrast to the large gender differences in the prevalence of dieting and binge eating, more modest differences were documented in the prevalence of using vomiting and laxatives to control weight.
The Relationship of Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Factors, and Overweight in U.S. Adolescents**
Obesity, 2003
GORDON-LARSEN, PENNY, LINDA S. ADAIR, AND BARRY M. POPKIN. The relationship of ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, and overweight in U.S. Adolescents Obes Res. 2003;11:121-129. Objective: To examine the extent to which race/ethnic differences in income and education account for sex-specific disparities in overweight prevalence in white, African American, Hispanic, and Asian U.S. teens.
Annals of Epidemiology, 2008
PURPOSE: This study examines independent and joint associations between several socioeconomic, demographic, and behavioral characteristics and obesity prevalence among 46,707 children aged 10-17 years in the United States. METHODS: The 2003 National Survey of Children's Health was used to calculate obesity prevalence. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds of obesity and adjusted prevalence. RESULTS: Ethnic minority status, non-metropolitan residence, lower socioeconomic status (SES) and social capital, higher television viewing, and higher physical inactivity levels were all independently associated with higher obesity prevalence. Adjusted obesity prevalence varied by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and SES. Compared with affluent white children, the odds of obesity were 2.7, 1.9 and 3.2 times higher for the poor Hispanic, white, and black children, respectively. Hispanic, white, and black children watching television 3 hours or more per day had 1.8, 1.9, and 2.5 times higher odds of obesity than white children who watched television less than 1 hour/day, respectively. Poor children with a sedentary lifestyle had 3.7 times higher odds of obesity than their active, affluent counterparts (adjusted prevalence, 19.8% vs. 6.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Race/ethnicity, SES, and behavioral factors are independently related to childhood and adolescent obesity. Joint effects by gender, race/ethnicity, and SES indicate the potential for considerable reduction in the existing disparities in childhood obesity in the United States.
Adolescents' health behaviors and obesity: Does race affect this epidemic?
Nutrition research and practice, 2010
This study explores the influence of health behaviors and individual attributes on adolescent overweight and obesity using data from Wave II (Add Health). Structural equation model/path analysis using maximum likelihood estimation was utilized to analyze the relationships of health behaviors and attributes with obesity. Results of the model reveal that the causal paths (adolescents' attributes and health behaviors) for overweight and obesity were different for African American and Caucasian adolescents. Generally, African Americans were more susceptible to overweight and obesity than Caucasians. Although increasing levels of vigorous physical activities lowers the risk for obesity among African American and Caucasian adolescents alike, low family SES and being sedentary were associated with overweight and obesity among Caucasians. No significant associations were found among African Americans. Increased hours of sleep at night relate positively with obesity among African America...
Disordered weight control behaviors (
2012
BACKGROUND: Dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviors can predict disordered weight control behaviors (DWCB) among youth. This study examines dietary and PA correlates of DWCB and differences by race/ethnicity and weight status in a diverse sample of youth. METHODS: Self-reported data on dietary weight management behaviors, strengthening/toning exercises, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and DWCB (vomiting, taking laxatives, and/or taking diet pills without a prescription) were obtained from 15,260 sixth to eighth graders in 47 middle schools participating in the Massachusetts Healthy Choices Study at baseline (2005). Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate odds of DWCB associated with dietary and PA behaviors and to examine for differences by race/ethnicity and weight status, adjusting for covariates and clustering of individuals within schools. RESULTS: Disordered weight control behaviors were reported by 3.6 % of girls and 3.1 % of boys. Youth who engaged...
Elevated body mass index and obesity among ethnically diverse adolescents
Ethnicity & disease, 2011
To examine trends in prevalence and odds of elevated body mass index (BMI) and obesity among ethnically diverse adolescents. Data from countywide (Miami-Dade) health screenings from 1999-2005. Weight, height, days/week of vigorous activity, hours/day of sedentary activity, parental hypertension, and eating habits were reported. 77,050 adolescents, average age 15.6 years (51% girls, 9.4% White non-Hispanic, 59.2% White Hispanic, 16.4% African American, 7% Black Hispanic, and 8% Black Caribbean). Prevalence and ethnic differences in odds of obesity (BMI > or = 95th percentile) and elevated BMI (BMI > or = 85th percentile), adjusting for academic years, days/week of vigorous activity, and hours/day of sedentary activity. Prevalence of elevated BMI and obesity increased from 1999-2005. Overall, White non-Hispanics had lower odds of obesity and elevated BMI than African Americans and White Hispanics. African American girls displayed higher odds of obesity and elevated BMI than Blac...
Racial Disparities in Obesity Treatment Among Children and Adolescents
Current Obesity Reports, 2021
Purpose of Review With the growing obesity epidemic among children and adolescents, the evaluation of disease origin to slow disease progression is necessary. Racial disparities which are evident amid prevalence and treatment must be studied to counteract disease propagation. Recent Findings Disparities are pronounced among Black and Hispanic pediatric patients prior to conception and birth due to genetic composition and fetal environment. Postnatal environment and psychosocial influences can further increase a child/ adolescent's propensity to increased weight. Current treatment options including nutrition, physical activity, behavior modification, pharmacotherapy, and surgery are underutilized in communities of color due to limited access to care and cost. Summary Data is limited to demonstrate disparities among treatment of obesity in children and adolescents. The reviewed studies show the role of race on disease treatment. Increased research efforts, especially in pharmacotherapy and metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), will help combat obesity in pediatric communities of color.