Deconstructing race and gender differences in adolescent obesity: Oaxaca-blinder decomposition.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

OBJECTIVE: To analyze sources of racial and gender disparities in adolescent obesity prevalence in the United States using Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study, a 2010 nationally representative study of 9th-12th grade students. Obesity status was determined from objective height and weight data; weight-related behaviors and school, home, and environmental data were collected via questionnaire. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition was used to independently analyze racial and gender obesity prevalence differences (PD), i.e., comparing Black girls to White girls, and Black girls to Black boys. RESULTS: Overall, measured characteristics accounted for 46.8% of the racial PD but only 11.9% of the gender PD. Racial PD was associated with Black girls having less fruit/vegetable access at home, obtaining lunch at school more often, and playing fewer sports than White girls. Gender PD was associated with differential associations between physical activity (PA) measures-including total activities in the past year and days of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in the past week-and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: School lunch and home food environmental variables accounted for racial disparities, but not gender disparities, in obesity prevalence. Gender differences in mechanisms between PA and obesity should be explored further.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Taber, DR; Robinson, WR; Bleich, SN; Wang, YC

Published Date

  • March 2016

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 24 / 3

Start / End Page

  • 719 - 726

PubMed ID

  • 26841122

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC4792537

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1930-739X

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/oby.21369

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States