Related Experiment Videos
Weight-related attitudes and behaviors in fourth grade American Indian children
J Stevens1, M Story, A Becenti
1Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7400, USA. June_Stevens@unc.edu
Insights
Weight concerns and dieting attempts are common in young American Indian children. Many children, especially girls, are unhappy with their body size and try to lose weight at a young age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health
- Public health
- Anthropology
Background:
- American Indian children exhibit high rates of obesity.
- Limited data exists on weight-related attitudes and dieting behaviors in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess weight concerns in American Indian children.
- To evaluate body size perceptions.
- To determine the prevalence of weight reduction attempts and methods in fourth-grade American Indian children.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from 304 participants in the Pathways Feasibility Study.
- Trained staff administered questionnaires to children in a one-on-one format.
- Children self-reported their answers to questions.
Main Results:
- 38% of children reported attempting weight loss, primarily through increased exercise.
- Girls showed greater body size dissatisfaction than boys.
- Children attempting weight loss desired smaller body sizes and perceived smaller sizes as healthier.
Conclusions:
- Weight loss attempts and concerns are prevalent among young American Indian children.
- Early-onset weight-related concerns are a significant public health issue in this population.
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.