Nutr Res Pract.  2010 Dec;4(6):528-534.

Adolescents' health behaviors and obesity: Does race affect this epidemic?

• Dodor BA
• Shelley MC
• Hausafus C

Abstract

This study explores the influence of health behaviors and individual attributes on adolescent overweight and obesity using data from Wave II (Add Health). Structural equation model/path analysis using maximum likelihood estimation was utilized to analyze the relationships of health behaviors and attributes with obesity. Results of the model reveal that the causal paths (adolescents' attributes and health behaviors) for overweight and obesity were different for African American and Caucasian adolescents. Generally, African Americans were more susceptible to overweight and obesity than Caucasians. Although increasing levels of vigorous physical activities lowers the risk for obesity among African American and Caucasian adolescents alike, low family SES and being sedentary were associated with overweight and obesity among Caucasians. No significant associations were found among African Americans. Increased hours of sleep at night relate positively with obesity among African Americans. These findings suggest important elements in the consideration of race in developing effective intervention and prevention approaches for curbing the obesity epidemic among U.S. adolescents.

Keyword

Adolescents; obesity; health behaviors; racial disparities; SES

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
African Americans
Continental Population Groups
Health Behavior
Humans
Motor Activity
Obesity
Overweight
Polymethacrylic Acids
Polymethacrylic Acids

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Adolescents' health behaviors and obesity. ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05

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  Fig. 2 Structural paths for Caucasions ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05

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  Fig. 3 Structural paths for African Americans ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05

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