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Overweight among Kauai first-graders
1Hawaii Department of Health, Family Health Services Division, Kauai District Health Office, Lihue, HI 96766, USA.
Hawaii Medical Journal
|November 9, 2005
Summary
A 2003 study found that 14.5% of Kauai first-graders were at risk for overweight and 21.5% were overweight. This prevalence was double the national rate for children of the same age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding local prevalence is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of overweight and at-risk for overweight conditions among first-grade students in Kauai.
- To compare Kauai's childhood obesity rates with national data.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of pre-school physical examination data from Kauai public school first-graders in 2003.
- Utilized Body Mass Index (BMI)-for-age percentiles to classify weight status.
Main Results:
- 14.5% of students were classified as at risk for overweight (BMI-for-age between the 85th and 94th percentiles).
- 21.5% of students were classified as overweight (BMI-for-age >95th percentile).
- The prevalence of overweight in Kauai students was double the reported national average for the same age group.
Conclusions:
- Kauai first-graders exhibited significantly higher rates of overweight and at-risk for overweight conditions compared to national averages.
- The findings highlight a critical need for childhood obesity prevention and management strategies in Kauai.