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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3229.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 2:30 PM

Abstract #119594

Factors associated with soft drink consumption among middle school students in an East South Central U.S. county

Jen Nickelson, MS, RD1, Carol A. Bryant, PhD2, and Melinda S. Forthofer, PhD2. (1) College of Public Health, Dept. of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, 813-971-2119 ext 108, nickelsonjen@aol.com, (2) Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health and Florida Prevention Research Center, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612-3805

Background: Obesity is a consequence of biological, behavioral, and social influences. The prevention of youth obesity includes decreasing sweetened beverage intake and improving parents' control over children's diets. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with soft drink consumption (SDC) among middle school students in a U.S. East South Central county. Methods: The 2004 county Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was the data source (N=2487). Questions related to SDC and parents' limiting their children's SDC supplemented the YRBS. Multiple regression analysis controlled for effects of 19 independent variables. Results: The independent variables explained approximately 15% of the variance associated with SDC (Adj R2 = 0.148, F = 14.04, p < 0.0001). Individual variables negatively associated with SDC were parental limits on SDC (b = -0.119, p < 0.0001), limits on television viewing (b = -0.083, p < 0.0001), milk intake (b = -0.064, p = 0.0015), and breakfast intake (b = -0.076, p = 0.0002). Variables positively associated with SDC were television viewing (b = 0.250; p < 0.0001) and physical activity (b = 0.079, p < 0.0001). Discussion: Except for physical activity, pro-health behaviors were negatively associated with SDC, while television viewing was positively associated with SDC. Whereas parents who enforce limits may promote a wide range of pro-health behaviors, those parents with physically active children may be less concerned about the negative effects of SDC. Conclusions: Parental monitoring should include limiting SDC and television viewing, while promoting breakfast and milk intake.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Obesity, Youth

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.

APHA Student Assembly Poster Session I

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA