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Biobehavioral factors are associated with obesity in Puerto Rican children

M Tanasescu1, A M Ferris, D A Himmelgreen

  • 1Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.

The Journal of Nutrition
|June 27, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Fruit juice, TV time, and maternal BMI predict childhood obesity in Puerto Rican children. Lower dairy intake was protective. Obese children also had higher blood pressure and more infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Childhood Obesity Research
  • Community Health Studies

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern with complex contributing factors.
  • Understanding specific risk factors within diverse communities is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Puerto Rican children in urban settings may face unique environmental and lifestyle influences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key predictors of obesity in Puerto Rican children residing in Hartford, CT.
  • To examine the association between dietary habits, screen time, and obesity status.
  • To explore potential health consequences linked to childhood obesity in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study design involving 53 prepubertal children (7-10 years old).
  • Classification of children into obese (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) and control groups.
  • Multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine obesity predictors, including dietary intake and TV viewing.

Main Results:

  • Increased fruit juice consumption (OR 4.02), daily TV hours (OR 1.86), and maternal BMI (OR 1.39) were significant predictors of obesity.
  • Lower dairy product intake (OR 0.41) showed a protective association.
  • TV viewing correlated with reduced physical activity in girls and increased snacking in boys. Obese children had higher blood pressure and experienced more ear infections and diarrhea.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood obesity in this Puerto Rican community is multifactorial, influenced by diet, sedentary behavior, and parental factors.
  • Specific dietary patterns, such as high fruit juice and low dairy intake, play a role.
  • Sedentary behaviors like excessive TV viewing are linked to obesity and associated health issues, highlighting the need for comprehensive prevention strategies.

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