Skip to main content

Weight-related attitudes and behaviors in fourth grade American Indian children.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Stevens, J; Story, M; Becenti, A; French, SA; Gittelsohn, J; Going, SB; Juhaeri; Levin, S; Murray, DM
Published in: Obes Res
January 1999

OBJECTIVE: American Indian children have a high prevalence of obesity, yet little is known about weight-related attitudes and the prevalence of dieting in this population. This study assessed weight concerns, body size perceptions, weight reduction attempts, and weight loss methods in fourth grade American Indian children. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants (n = 304) attended one of eight schools in the Pathways Feasibility Study. Question and answer choices were read to children by trained staff, and children marked their own answers. RESULTS: Thirty-eight percent of the children reported that they had tried to lose weight. The most common strategy for weight reduction was exercising more. Girls were more likely than boys to be dissatisfied with their body size (48% of girls vs. 34% of boys desired a slimmer body size; 22% of girls vs. 15% of boys desired a larger body size; p<0.001). Children who had tried to lose weight were more likely to indicate that the size they most desired and the most healthy size were smaller than their perceived size (p<0.001). Children who reported trying to lose weight were also more likely to want to be skinnier and to be unhappy about their weight than were children who did not report trying to lose weight (p<0.001 for both). DISCUSSION: We conclude that weight loss attempts and weight-related concerns are prevalent in American Indian children at a young age.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Obes Res

DOI

ISSN

1071-7323

Publication Date

January 1999

Volume

7

Issue

1

Start / End Page

34 / 42

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • South Dakota
  • New Mexico
  • Male
  • Indians, North American
  • Humans
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Female
  • Feeding Behavior
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Stevens, J., Story, M., Becenti, A., French, S. A., Gittelsohn, J., Going, S. B., … Murray, D. M. (1999). Weight-related attitudes and behaviors in fourth grade American Indian children. Obes Res, 7(1), 34–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1999.tb00388.x
Stevens, J., M. Story, A. Becenti, S. A. French, J. Gittelsohn, S. B. Going, S. B. Juhaeri, S. Levin, and D. M. Murray. “Weight-related attitudes and behaviors in fourth grade American Indian children.Obes Res 7, no. 1 (January 1999): 34–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1999.tb00388.x.
Stevens J, Story M, Becenti A, French SA, Gittelsohn J, Going SB, et al. Weight-related attitudes and behaviors in fourth grade American Indian children. Obes Res. 1999 Jan;7(1):34–42.
Stevens, J., et al. “Weight-related attitudes and behaviors in fourth grade American Indian children.Obes Res, vol. 7, no. 1, Jan. 1999, pp. 34–42. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/j.1550-8528.1999.tb00388.x.
Stevens J, Story M, Becenti A, French SA, Gittelsohn J, Going SB, Juhaeri, Levin S, Murray DM. Weight-related attitudes and behaviors in fourth grade American Indian children. Obes Res. 1999 Jan;7(1):34–42.

Published In

Obes Res

DOI

ISSN

1071-7323

Publication Date

January 1999

Volume

7

Issue

1

Start / End Page

34 / 42

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • South Dakota
  • New Mexico
  • Male
  • Indians, North American
  • Humans
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Female
  • Feeding Behavior