Clinical Research Coordinator American University McLean, Virginia, United States
Disclosure(s):
Houra Taheri, Doctorate: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the known risk factors for overweight and obesity in African-American, White and Hispanic Children ages 6-11 years in order to guide strategies into an effective course of action for prevention.
Methods: Data from this study was extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014. From the available data, the following were utilized: socio-demographic factors, dietary intake, physical activity and sedentary behaviors, childhood food insecurity, early childhood data, and BMI and BMI category. Extracted data were analyzed using SUDAAN software (RTI International Inc., Research Triangle Park). The relationships of risk factors to BMI status were investigated using chi-square and t-tests. Logistic regression were used to investigate variables predictive of overweight and obesity in African American, White and Hispanic children. A 5% level of significance were utilized.
Results: Of the 1,112 subjects, 40 (3.6%) were underweight, 654 (58.8%) were of normal/healthy weight, 196 (17.6%) were overweight, and 222 (20%) were obese. Table 4.1 shows the socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects by BMI status. The prevalence of overweight was highest among those aged 9-11 years. The lowest prevalence of obesity (13.7%) was found among those aged six years, while in those aged 7-11 years the prevalence varied between 19.8 and 24.0%. The prevalence of both overweight and obesity was higher among females than among males. The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity was found among Hispanics, followed by African Americans, and Whites.
Conclusions: This study has provided updated information on risk factors for obesity in children aged 6-11 years, based on the analysis of data from NHANES 2013-2014. The author assessed how do age, gender, household income, dietary intake, physical activity, food security, birth weight, and parental perception of children’s weight relate to overweight and obesity prevalence in African-American, Hispanic, and White children aged 6-11 years.
