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

Abstract #117381

Deborah E. Norton, RN, NP, PhD¹, Catherine M. Waters, PhD, RN², Virginia (Ginger) Carrieri-Kohlman, RN, DNSc, FAAN³, and Erika Froelicher, RN, PhD³. (1) Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94118, 925-708-4085, dnortonanp@astound.net, (2) Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, Box 0608, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, (3) Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, #N-631, San Francisco, CA 94143-0610

The number of children and adolescents considered overweight and physically inactive has doubled since the 1980s, increasing their risk for heart disease and other preventable chronic illnesses. Current research indicates that eating and exercise habits consolidate before age 10 and that these risk factors track from childhood into adulthood. Cardiovascular risk factors in children are similar to those of adults and empirical data indicate that positive lifestyle changes in childhood can reduce cardiovascular disease rates among adults. Parents, teachers and friends may be potent moderators of preadolescents' eating and exercise behavior. The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to determine if eating behavior, exercise behavior, social support for healthy eating and exercise behavior influenced preadolescents' eating and exercise behaviors. A convenience sample of 153 fourth and fifth grade school students was surveyed from elementary schools in a school district in Northern California. Data were collected at one time point using the dietary and exercise sections of the YRBS and the social support scales of the health behavior questionnaire. Descriptive and correlational analyses reveal that preadolescents were physically active though they were not eating the minimum recommended servings of fruits, vegetables, or milk. Preadolescents perceived more social support for healthy eating from parents, and more social support for exercising from friends. Social support factors were significantly correlated with preadolescents' eating (r=.19) and exercise (r=.29) behaviors. This study adds to the knowledge base for school nurses and others who are concerned about the primary prevention of overweight and obesity in schools.

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