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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Ethnic/racial differences in the self-reported physical and mental health correlates of adolescent obesity
Athur L Whaley1, Michelle Smith, Anyaliese Hancock
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jackson State University, 350 Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. arthur.whaley@jsums.edu
Abstract:
Adolescent obesity has increased significantly during the past 20 years disproportionately affecting African-Americans. We tested the cultural hypothesis which suggests that the acceptance of a larger body size among African-Americans serves as a protective factor against negative physical and mental health consequences. Secondary analyses of data from a subsample of 5158 Black and White participants in the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were conducted to assess the relationship between weight status and global self-reports of physical and psychological health. Planned comparisons revealed support of our hypotheses for some outcomes but not others. Implications for interventions targeting adolescent obesity are discussed.
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