Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108110

Sheri Stucke, PhDc, CRNP, CNS and A. Serdar Atav, PhD. Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, 607-777-4625, sheri@thestuckes.com

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between weight control behaviors and BMI among a national sample of adolescents. Overweight among the adolescent population ages 12 to 19 have tripled over the past three decades. Overweight is a major public health problem in the United States, but is especially of concern for the adolescent population due to the long term health consequences they are at risk for as adults. Overweight among adolescents may be caused by their increased inactivity with the increased use of computers, televisions and video games. Lifetime physical activity habits are established early in life; therefore it is important for adolescents to establish regular physical activity routines to develop those healthy lifestyles. Small decreases in physical activity can have large impacts over time. Analyses will include activities such as participation in physical activity, exercises to strengthen or tone muscles, participation in sports teams, attendance in physical education classes, and hours of television viewing as weight control behaviors. Self-report height and weight from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey will be used to calculate body mass index and provide a measure of whether students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. This presentation will focus on adolescent weight control behaviors in relation to their BMI. Adolescents residing in rural, suburban, and urban areas will be compared to assess whether location of residence has an effect on weight control behaviors and BMI. Sub analyses will include other various demographic factors such as age, gender and ethnicity.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze relationships between weight control behaviors and BMI among rural, suburban and urban adolescents in a national sample.
• Identify other demographic factors that affect weight control behaviors and BMI among rural, suburban and urban adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.