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

Abstract #111235

Helen Margellos-Anast, MPH¹, Melanie A. Estarziau, MPH¹, Ami M. Shah, MPH², and Steven Whitman, PhD². (1) Sinai Urban Health Institute, California at 15th St. Room K450, Chicago, IL 60608, 773-257-5258, estme@sinai.org, (2) Sinai Health System, Sinai Urban Health Institute, California Ave at 15th St., K439, Chicago, IL 60608

Background: Approximately 30% of American school-aged children (6-11 years) are overweight (BMI for age and sex > 85th percentile), with disparities by race/ethnicity (36% of non-Hispanic Black, 39% of Hispanic and 26% of non-Hispanic White children). Overweight children are at an increased risk of becoming overweight adults, developing serious health problems and suffering emotionally. Community-level data, which are generally lacking, would be useful for many reasons.

Methods: A comprehensive health survey was implemented in six racially/ethnically and economically diverse community areas in Chicago. Data were collected about 811 children (<12 years) from randomly selected households through face-to-face interviews with primary caretakers. As a part of the interview, caretakers were asked for the height and weight of their child. Questions on diet/nutrition and physical activity were also included on the survey.

Results: Estimates from the survey revealed that in five of the six community areas, over half of children were overweight (range: 51%-69%). Disparities existed by race/ethnicity, with 63% of school-aged children (6-12 yrs) in predominantly Black communities being overweight, compared to 46% in Mexican and 11% in White communities. Our presentation will further explore the underlying social, behavioral and environmental factors associated with these community-level disparities.

Implications: These community level prevalence rates are much higher than comparable national estimates. Local level data from other parts of the country would be useful in further defining the overweight epidemic and its underlying determinants. Such data would make the effective allocation of resources to combat the problem more feasible.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of collecting local level data in further defining the overweight epidemic and its underlying determinants
• Describe the burden of pediatric obesity in parts of Chicago and how it compares to other regions
• Describe disparities in overweight by race/ethnicity in several Chicago communities and discuss the underlying social, behavioral and environmental factors associated with these community-level disparities

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.

Recorded presentation