The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66746

Virginia R Chomitz, PhD¹, Juhee Kim, MS¹, Robert McGowan, PhD², David Bor, MD³, and Karen Ann Hacker, MD, MPH¹. (1) Institute for Community Health, 119 Windsor St., Ground Level, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-665-3807, vchomitz@challiance.org, (2) Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School,Physical Education Department, Cambridge Public Schools, 459 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138, (3) The Cambridge Hospital, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

We assessed BMI and lifestyle behaviors among healthy weight (HW) (5th < BMI < 85th percentiles) and overweight and at-risk (OW) (> 85th BMI percentile) kindergarten – 8th grade students and their families. Physical education teachers collected BMI and fitness information on students. Students were grouped according to BMI and parents/guardians of OW students were over sampled. 397 parents/guardians completed telephone surveys regarding their child’s health and lifestyle behaviors in summer 2001. 50.9% of children were OW, 50.1% female, 44.3% White, 39.3% free or reduced price meal eligible.

Parents of OW children were less aware of their child’s weight status than parents of HW children (53.2% vs 89.1% p<0.0001) yet more concerned about their child’s weight (45% vs 13% p<.0001). More OW children had a TV in their room (46.5% vs 28.3% p=0.0002), watched 2+ hours of TV daily (41.8% vs 27.2% p=0.0046), and almost always ate meals in front of the TV (11.3% vs 5.3% p=0.024). Fewer OW children achieved an “excellent” fitness score (33.3% vs 58.3% p<0.0001). Fewer OW children were served 5+ fruits or vegetables daily (11.1% vs 21.6% p=0.0135) or always ate breakfast with their family (27.2% vs 40.5%).

Efforts to raise awareness of overweight and its relationship to TV use, low fitness and poor diet are underway in Cambridge. 2 – 1 – 5 (<2 hours of TV; 1+ hour of physical activity; 5+ fruits/vegetables daily) goals have been adopted to guide personal and environmental changes associated with healthy weight.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to
• Identify lifestyle health behaviors associated with healthy weight and overweight among children,
• Describe how a community is promoting healthy weight,
• Describe the 2 – 1 – 5 goals for promoting healthy weight

Keywords: Obesity, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.