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

Abstract #112765

Marilyn M. Gardner, PhD, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, STH 410E, Bowling Green, KY 42101, 270.745.5864, marilyn.gardner@wku.edu and Elizabeth E. Siddens, BA, Health Information Branch, Barren River District Health Department, P.O. Box 1157, 1109 State Street, Bowling Green, KY 42102-1157.

Much attention has been focused in recent years on the growing problem of childhood overweight and obesity. As overweight persists into adolescence, the likelihood of remaining overweight or obese as an adult increases dramatically. To better understand the factors associated with adolescent overweight, a two-prong study was undertaken on a cohort of students attending a public city high school in southern Kentucky. Height and weight measurements were abstracted from school health physical forms in the students' academic records and BMI percentile was computed for two points in time: school entry at kindergarten and sixth grade. Additionally, students were weighed and measured during their current school year to assess current BMI percentile. The second-prong of the study involved administering the portions of the YRBS pertaining to diet and physical activity, as well as some add-on questions addressing school vending and the built environment. Data were analyzed descriptively to determine prevalence of overweight and to develop a trend within a single cohort over time. Data were analyzed inferentially to identify predictors for adolescent overweight. This presentation will focus on the methods and findings of this study, as well as implications for school and public health education and health promotion.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to

• discuss problems of adolescent overweight;
• indentify factors associated with adolescent overweight; and, 3)brainstorm strategies to address adolescent overweight.

Keywords: Adolescents, Obesity

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