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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

T. Elaine Prewitt, DrPH, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, #820, Little Rock, AR 72205, 501-526-6637, tprewitt@uams.edu and Gerald M. Funk, PhD, Loyola University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Chicago, IL 60626.

This study tracked change and persistence in overweight in children who entered kindergarten in Fall, 1998 and completed first grade in Spring, 2000 using Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) data. ECLS provides information on health, early care and school experiences for a nationally representative sample of approximately 23,000 children from kindergarten through fifth grade. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight for Asian, Black, Hispanic and White children and categorized as at risk for overweight (greater or equal to 85%ile,less than 95%ile) or overweight (greater than 95%ile) using 2000 CDC growth charts (age and gender specific BMI%ile). Change and persistence in both overweight and risk for overweight were assessed at kindergarten and first grade for the same children (n=13,408). Statistical weights were used to compute national estimates and standard error of estimates. Nationally, 15.2% of kindergartners were at risk for overweight when entering kindergarten, and the percentage reduced to 13.5% at completion of first grade. Approximately 11.4% of kindergartners were overweight and this increased to 13.2% by first grade. On the other hand, 6.2% of children were persistently at risk and 8.3% were persistently overweight at both time points. Among kindergarteners at risk, African American girls had a significant increase in the percent who became overweight by first grade, (29.3 +/- 5.1%,p<.05). Effective multi-level prevention approaches are urgently needed to abate the risk for overweight and to achieve healthy weight in children already overweight.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to do the following based on longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of children

• describe the change in overweight and risk for overweight between kindergarten and first grade by race, ethnicity and gender;
• Describe the percent of children who were persistently overweight at kindergarten entry and completion of first grade by race and gender groups.

Keywords: Obesity, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No