The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63406

Naveed Ahmad, MD, MPH, Clinical Research Office, Children's Medical Center of Dallas, 1935 Motor Street, Dallas, TX 75235, Ximena Urrutia-Rojas, RN, DrPH, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699, 817-735-0325, xurrutia@hsc.unt.edu, Manuel Bayona, MD, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, Sejong Bae, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, Carolina A. Alvarez-Garriga, MD, SCP, Deparment of Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699, and Karan P. Singh, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107.

The study assessed ethnic differences in the distribution of factors associated with obesity in children using data from a school-based cross-sectional study of 1,076 children in Fort Worth, Texas. A chi-square comparison of homogeneity across categories was used to examine the association between covariates and obesity. Logistic regression was used to measure the association of each variable with ethnicity while adjusting for all potential confounders. Obesity was found to be more prevalent in African Americans (32.8%) and Hispanics (31.9%) as compared to Caucasians (23.5%). Hispanics reported eating eat less vegetables [OR: 0.49 (95%CI: 0.31-0.79)] and more fruits [OR: 2.43 (95%CI: 1.50-3.93)]. African Americans reported eating more vegetables [OR: 1.85 (95%CI: 1.09-3.15)] and equal or less fruits [OR: 0.68 (95%CI: 0.37-1.26)] than Caucasians. Hispanic obese children are less likely to eat chips than Caucasian obese children [OR: 0.26 (95%CI: 0.07-1.01)]. A positive association of obesity and sweet/sweetened drinks was found more likely among Hispanics and African Americans, especially among those watching more TV, as compared to Caucasians [OR: 2.65 (95%CI: 0.90-7.78), & 3.02 (95%CI: 0.94-9.73) respectively]. Hispanics and African Americans were less likely to be involved in regular exercise, especially girls, as compared to Caucasian girls [OR: 0.11 (95%CI: 0.04-0.30), & 0.09 (95%CI: 0.03-0.30) respectively]. Among children with high blood pressure, African Americans and Hispanics were more likely to be obese than Caucasians [OR: 17.02 (95%CI: 2.11-137.50), & 2.07 (95%CI: 0.68-6.25) respectively]. As potential determinants of adult obesity and its implications, lifestyle differences between ethnic groups need to be explored further.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of presentation the participants will be able to:
• Recognize dietary risk factors for obesity in children.
• Describe the role of ethnicity on the risk and prevention of obesity in children.
• Identify dietary risk factors with regard to obesity in African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic children.
• Describe dietary elements to be considered when developing interventions at the individual and population levels to prevent obesity.

Keywords: Obesity, Children and Adolescents

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.