The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49061

Judith A. McDivitt, PhD¹, Holly A. Massett, PhD², Fred Fridinger, DrPH³, and Deanne Weber, PhD². (1) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K-46, Atlanta, GA 30341, (404) 315-7563, zlf2@cdc.gov, (2) Research, Porter Novelli, 1909 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, (3) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mailstop K-24, Atlanta, GA 30341

This presentation will report the results of a survey of girls and their parents conducted in the fall of 2001 as part of the National Bone Health Campaign (NBHC). The NBHC is a multi-year national campaign targeting 9-12 year old girls to promote optimal bone health through increased consumption of calcium-rich foods and weight-bearing physical activity. In order to better understand the campaign's audience and, specifically, the psychosocial factors that affect consumption of foods with calcium and physical activity, a nationally representative survey of 1,000 girls, ages 9-12, with matched data from 1,000 of their parents was conducted in November to December 2001. Another 1,000 girls, ages 13-18, were surveyed without matching parental data. Findings from the survey will be presented, including girls': understanding of what foods have calcium, intake of foods with calcium, physical activity participation, potential barriers (e.g., body image, peer influence, access issues), and potential facilitators (e.g., perceived prenatal encouragement). Data collected on girls' height and weight will enable body mass index (BMI) calculations that can be used to explore how BMI interacts with girls' attitudes and behaviors around nutrition and physical activity. Parents' perceptions of their own role, perceptions, and behaviors with regard to their daughters' nutrition and physical activity will be compared to the girls'.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• List the perceived barriers and benefits that girls 9-12 years old report as significant in their behaviors around physical activity and eating foods with calcium.
• Recognize and explain at least three psychosocial variables and how they affect girls' calcium nutrition and physical activity levels.
• Describe parents' perceptions of their daughters' calcium nutrition and physical activity levels as compared to the daughters' perceptions.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Health Communications

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.