Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108441

Priscah Mujuru, RN MPH, Community Medicine, West Virginia University, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506, Jenny Bardwell, MS, Health Sciences and Technology Academy, West Virginia University, PO Box 9026, Morgantown, WV 26501, 304-293-1443, jbardwell@hsc.wvu.edu, Kalifa Sogodogo, BS, Lycee Kankou Moussa, PO Box 08, Bamako, Mali, and Cindy Fitch, PhD RD, Human Nutrition and Foods, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6124, 702-F Allen Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506.

How to combat the increase in the prevalence of obesity among youth in the USA is a complex problem. To address this issue a lifestyle intervention study targeting youths of different backgrounds was performed in Mali and West Virginia (WV) during years 2002-2003. The two populations were ideal for comparison because they exemplify global diverse health problems associated with nutrition and physical activity. The next step will be to assess the impact of this passive intervention on lifestyle in WV. High school students, under the supervision of Medical experts and secondary science teachers, in Mali and WV completed NIH ethics training, and recruited students to participate in the study. The study subjects were monitored several times during the study period. At each visit the subjects were questioned about diet, and BMI, heart rate and blood pressure were measured. There were 28 participants from Mali and 71 from WV aged 12 to 22 years. Significantly more students from Mali reported consuming a low-fat diet (68% v. 23%, p=.05) and a low sugar diet (50% v. 9%, p=.0006) Ninety-six percent of the Malians and 82% WV reported regular weekly exercises. The mean BMI for Mali participants was significantly lower than the BMI for WV participants (p=.000035). The mean systolic blood pressure for the Mali subjects was significantly lower than the WV group (p=.0008). Results indicate less desirable dietary patterns in a highly developed country compared to a developing country, with parallel increases in risk factors for chronic disease in WV youth.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand the similarities and differences between diet and physical activity choices of youth in Mali and West Virginia

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.