The scales were tared to zero before use and after every student. Children were asked to remove hats, belts, heavy jewelry, jackets, and shoes. Height was measured in inches; weight in pounds. Height and weight, rounded up or down to the nearest whole inch or pound, were recorded on an Optiscan form, along with age, gender, date of birth, racial or ethnic background, and the preschool code number.
Data forms were mailed back to the researchers. BMI was calculated for each preschooler based on the height in meters and weight in kilograms. BMI values were screened to ensure that the results were biologically plausible, using the limits established by the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, CDC [ 24 , 25 ].
Children were classified as underweight BMI is less than or equal to the 5th percentile , healthy weight BMI is greater than the 5th but less than the 84th percentile , overweight BMI is equal to 85th but less than the 95th percentile , or obese BMI is equal to or greater than the 95th percentile. Test of significant differences in prevalence estimates within and between and was performed using chi-square tests.
The sample was younger than the sample. This was due in part to differences in timing of data collection, and random sampling may have also contributed. In , the overall obesity rate was The obesity prevalence for boys was significantly higher at The obesity prevalence for whites The obesity prevalence for children 3, 4, and 5 years of age was The results may not be reliable.
In the study, the overall rate of overweight was The overweight prevalence for boys The overweight prevalence for whites The overweight prevalence for children 3, 4, and 5 years of age was The differences in overall obesity prevalence and prevalence by gender, race, gender and race, and age between and are presented in Table 2 and in Figure 1. The overall obesity prevalence between The prevalence for males increased from However, none of the changes were statistically significant.
In terms of race, no significant differences were observed among white and black preschoolers between and The rates changed from The overall overweight prevalence and prevalence by gender, race, gender and race, and age for and are presented in Table 2 and in Figure 2. Analyses for overall overweight rates indicated insignificant changes between Further, there were no significant changes between boys The results show that males in this study had significantly higher rates of obesity than females.
The obesity rates by race and gender indicated the lowest rates were in white female preschoolers, which makes it likely that low white female rates accounted for most of the differences between males and females. These findings are consistent with those of the Child and Youth Prevalence of Obesity Study of Mississippi public school students [ 20 ], where the lowest rate of obesity was found among the youngest kindergarten through second grade white females.
In the study, no significant gender differences in obesity or overweight were found [ 21 ]. Likewise, no differences in overweight or obesity were found between black and white preschoolers in , which match findings in the study.
Significant age differences were not found in , but were highest in the 5 year olds, and were about the same in 3 and 4 year olds [ 21 ]. In , the highest rates were in the 4 and 5 year olds, with significantly lower rates found in the 3 year olds. Thus, while overall trends are somewhat stable, some of the most positive changes are occurring within gender and race and also within age groups.
Given the complexity of the genetic, biological, behavioral, and social contributors to child obesity, particularly in regards to gender [ 26 ], further study is needed to examine the differences in between genders and race in terms of exposure and vulnerability to therapeutic and obesogenic environments both at preschool and in the home. Several limitations of this study deal with timing and history.
First, Hurricane Katrina occurred about 2 months prior to data collection, affecting the bottom two-thirds of the state, and it is unknown how much disruption it may have caused in food and eating habits of that cohort of low-income preschoolers. Thus, there are older children and children who had been in Head Start Programs a few months longer represented in the study.
This situation may account for age differences in BMIs. Further research is needed to study seasonal and longitudinal BMI percentile changes in subgroups of Head Start preschoolers in Mississippi that may result from therapeutic teaching, dietary and physical activity interventions experienced within Head Start preschool environments and perhaps transferred to the home environment.
The increase in Latino and Hispanic children in Mississippi is the result of workers who immigrated into the area to help after Hurricane Katrina, stayed, and began families. In , the obesity prevalence for Head Start preschoolers with races other than white or black was also the highest, at This is an important finding as the Hispanic and Latino populations are likely to continue to increase in Mississippi, which may influence future preschooler weight trends in this state.
This increase in Hispanic children in low-income programs is consistent with national findings in the PedNSS report [ 15 ]. Because of the small sample sizes for white children, it should be noted that subgroup analyses by race and gender may not be reliable.
By doing so, additional insight can be determined as to the roles of gender, race, and income status, as well as the possible impact of different programs and interventions. Behaviors such as eating higher-calorie, low-nutrient foods and beverages, certain medications, and sleep routines all influence weight gain.
Low physical activity and too much time spent on sedentary activities are also factors. High blood pressure and high cholesterol seem like adult problems but they can actually affect children who are overweight or obese, too. Both conditions are high risk factors for heart disease. Children and teens who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop impaired glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes.
Obese children and teens are also at a higher risk of breathing problems like asthma and sleep apnea. Joint and musculoskeletal discomfort, fatty liver disease, gallstone, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder GERD are also more likely. Parents have a greater impact on their children and obesity than you might think. The meals you serve at home and the physical activities you participate in yourself influence the food and activity choices your children will make. The best thing you can do as a parent is to learn how to improve nutrition for your entire family.
The percentage of obesity among boys was the lowest in Oregon, at 11 percent, and the highest in Arkansas, at 27 percent. Wyoming girls had the lowest rate of obesity 6 percent , while Texas had the highest 20 percent. Related Coverage. There were eight states where a third or more of the youth population was overweight in , but 15 in Under the regulations, all full calorie, sugared carbonated soft drinks can no longer be sold to students in Mississippi schools during the school day.
Standards for snack items vary by the type of snack product, and the Department of Education maintains a list of products that meet state standards. The Department uses multiple strategies to support the implementation of the rules and regulations by Mississippi schools:. The Center has released two reports summarizing key findings from the first two years of research, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Bower Foundation, evaluating the impact of the Mississippi Healthy Students Act.
The reports, Assessing the Impact of the Mississippi Healthy Students Act, present the results of studies conducted by three Mississippi universities — the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and the University of Mississippi — examining the impact of recent policy changes. Research results indicate considerable progress in implementation of school wellness policies but also point to areas where more work is needed. Evidence of schools making tremendous improvement in the nutritional quality of foods offered to students is confirmed by data from surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC.
Childhood obesity is a critical health issue throughout the country and continues to have significant negative impacts in the State of Mississippi. Mississippians recognize the seriousness of the problem and support public policies to address the problem.
0コメント