Recorded presentation

Sarah Adkins, MPH, RD¹, Sharon B. Sugerman, MS, RD, FADA¹, Susan B Foerster, MPH, RD², Holly Hoegh, PhD³, and Mark Hudes, PhD⁴. (1) Public Health Institute, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, 1616 Capitol Ave., P.O. Box 942732, MS-7204, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, 916-650-6905, sadkins@dhs.ca.gov, (2) Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, California Department of Health Services, P.O. Box 942732, MS-7204, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, (3) Survey Research Group, Cancer Surveillance Section, California Department of Health Services, 1700 Tribute Road, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815, (4) Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, 1317 Washington Ave, Albany, CA 94706

The 2000 California Teen Eating, Exercise, and Nutrition Survey (CalTEENS), shows 25% of adolescents are overweight and at risk for overweight. There is a need for effective strategies to combat the obesity epidemic. CalTEENS is a population-based biennial survey that identifies self-reported consumption of foods, physical activity, body weight, related psychosocial determinants and environmental factors that influence these variables. Results show participation in physical education class drops sharply with age (Over 90% age 12-13 vs. 50% of students age16-17). Adolescents who had a class on the benefits of physical activity were more active each day than those who did not (72 vs 54 minutes, p<.01) but over 1/3 did not have these classes. Students who had a class on the benefits of eating healthfully, ate more fruits and vegetables than those who did not (4.8 vs. 4.1sv, p<.001). Nearly 50% of students said their school served food from fast food restaurants. Snacks, soft drinks, and candy were also available at schools from school stores (over 80%), soft drink vending machines (nearly 80%), and candy/snack vending (35%). Students took advantage of these and reported purchasing unhealthy food on the previous day from school stores (35%), soft drink machines (28%), and snack machines (19%). Additional relationships will be examined between availability of unhealthy food at school, lack of physical education, and factors related to overweight and its prevention. The presentation will discuss ways schools can help to combat the increase of overweight by altering policies and practices to promote healthy school environments.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the dietary intake, physical activity and body weight status of California teens.
• Discuss the impact the school environment has on teen health.
• Recommend policies and interventions schools can implement to help reverse the trend of increasing teen overweight.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, School Health

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.

Recorded presentation