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A Comparative Analysis of Rural versus Urban Preschool Children's Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption, Body Mass
Michele Montgomery1, Paige Johnson1, Patrick Ewell2
1The University of Alabama, Capstone College of Nursing, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
Insights
Childhood obesity is a major public health issue, particularly in low-income and minority populations. Parental Body Mass Index (BMI) and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption are key factors contributing to childhood obesity in both urban and rural settings.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Childhood overweight and obesity present a significant public health challenge.
- Disproportionately high rates are observed in minority, low-income, and rural populations.
- Identifying at-risk populations and associated risk factors is crucial for effective health promotion interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare obesity rates in preschool children and their parents from urban and rural Alabama communities.
- To identify risk factors associated with high obesity rates in this demographic.
- To inform the development of targeted obesity reduction strategies.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from low-income preschool children and their parents in urban and rural Alabama.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) measured during school health screenings.
- Parental BMI and child's sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption reported by parents.
Main Results:
- 12.8% of children were overweight and 15.8% were obese, with higher rates in rural areas.
- Maternal and paternal obesity rates were substantial (27.6% and 48% overweight, 39.6% and 34.6% obese, respectively).
- Higher child BMI was positively associated with mother's BMI, father's BMI, and daily SSB consumption (average 3.82 SSBs/day).
Conclusions:
- High rates of overweight and obesity persist among low-income, minority preschool children and their parents in Alabama.
- Maternal and paternal BMI, along with SSB consumption, are significant factors influencing child weight status.
- These risk factors are relevant in both rural and urban settings, indicating a need for community-wide interventions.
Background:
Childhood overweight and obesity continues to be a major public health concern, especially in minority, low-income, and rural populations. In order to develop health promotion interventions aimed at reducing obesity rates, there is a need to identify which populations have the highest rates of obesity and the risk factors associated with these high rates.
Methods:
Data collected from low-income, preschool children and their parents in an urban community and a rural community in Alabama were analyzed and compared. Body Mass Index (BMI) was collected during school based health screenings, and information regarding parent's BMI and child's consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) were collected by parent report.
Results:
Of the 363 children screened, 12.8% (15.2% rural and 11.9% urban) were considered overweight, and 15.8% (20.2% rural and 14.2% urban) of the sample was classified as obese. Rates of overweight and obesity for mothers were 27.6% (25.3% rural and 28.4% urban) and 48% (56.3% rural and 44.8% urban) respectively and 39.6% (53.3% rural and 34.4% urban) and 34.6% (28.3% rural and 36.9% urban) for fathers. Parents reported their child consumed 3.82 SSBs per day. Overall, mother's BMI, father's BMI and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was positively associated with child's BMI. However, there were no significant interactions between the rural and urban groups.
Conclusion:
Rates of overweight and obesity remain high in low-income, predominantly minority preschool children and their parents in two communities in Alabama. Consumption of SSBs, mother's BMI, and father's BMI are three factors impacting the weight status of low-income preschool children. These factors are significant in both rural and urban children.
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