Factors associated with overweight among urban American Indian adolescents: findings from Project EAT.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of overweight in a sample of urban American Indian adolescents and identify associated behavioral, personal, and socioenvironmental factors. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 246 American Indian boys and girls from the Saint Paul-Minneapolis metropolitan area of Minnesota who completed classroom surveys and anthropometric measurements as part of Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a population-based study of adolescent nutrition and weight. MEASURES: Survey items assessed behavioral factors (physical activity, television/video viewing, snacking and meal patterns, weight control behaviors), personal factors (body satisfaction, nutrition knowledge, nutrition/fitness attitudes, self-efficacy to make healthy food choices, perceived benefits/barriers to healthy eating), and socioenvironmental factors (family meal routines, family connectedness, parental attitudes regarding nutrition/fitness, availability of household foods, peer attitudes about weight and fitness). RESULTS: Overweight prevalence (body mass index > or =85th percentile) was 43% and 39% for American Indian boys and girls. Compared to nonoverweight American Indian youth, overweight American Indian youth reported watching more hours of television/videos, greater use of weight control behaviors, less frequent snacking, caring less about fitness, lower body satisfaction, and greater parental concern about weight. CONCLUSION: Obesity prevention programs targeting American Indian adolescents should focus on reducing time spent watching television/videos, screening for unhealthy weight-control behaviors, improving body satisfaction, and providing support for families to integrate healthy eating into their busy lifestyles.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • DeLong, AJ; Larson, NI; Story, M; Neumark-Sztainer, D; Weber-Main, AM; Ireland, M

Published Date

  • 2008

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 18 / 3

Start / End Page

  • 317 - 323

PubMed ID

  • 18785446

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1049-510X

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States