Physical growth, nutritional status, and dietary intake of African-American middle school students from Philadelphia

As part of an integrated program of academically based participatory action research, measurements of nutritional status and dietary intakes were collected from 11- to 15-year-old African-American youth attending an innercity Philadelphia middle school. Statures and weights were collected on 136 individuals and 24-hr recalls, distributed across the week, on 113. Using the U.S. reference data, statures were not significantly different from U.S. age/sex means, but weights were significantly greater. With the U.S. Black population (NHANES I and II) serving as a reference for the body mass index, 23.5% of the sample were classed as obese, with a BMI >90th centile. This is greater than has been reported for Philadelphia Whites, for U.S. Blacks in general, or for other samples from the U.S. and Canada. Intakes of vitamins were at or above two-thirds of RDAs except for vitamin D, with a median of 28.1% of the recommended allowance. Low intakes were also recorded for dietary fiber (36.9% RDA) and zinc, with a median intake of 63% RDA. The median intake of fat was 101.3% RDA, of saturated fat, 102.2% RDA, of cholesterol, 76% RDA, and of polyunsatured fat, 48.2% RDA. The median intake of sodium was 2701 mg, 112.5% RDA. Overall, the data indicate a population with a very high prevalence of obesity, and diets high in saturated fat and low in polyunsaturated fat. Also of potential concern is the indication of low intakes of zinc and high intakes of sodium. Given the increased health risks of urban African-Americans, these findings on young adolescents suggest the need to develop programs designed to improve diets and enhance health in general in this age group. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.