260520 “Prevalence of adolescent physical activity and healthy eating based on the 2007 and 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey and a diverse ethnic sample from Hawai‘i”

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Jacqueline Ng-Osorio, MPH , Research & Evaluation, Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu, HI
Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda, MS , Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Earl Hishinuma, PhD , Department of Psychiatry, JABSOM, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
Background: Adolescent obesity remains a significant public health issue (e.g., 18% of adolescents 12 to 19 years old; long-term chronic diseases). The obesity is worse for indigenous populations, such as NH (e.g., 46% for NH adults). Unfortunately, there have been no referred scientific publications on the obesity and related behavior rates for NH versus non-NH adolescents. Methods: The 2007, and 2009 statewide Hawai‘i High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (HYRBS) data were analyzed. Factor analyses were conducted for data reduction and psychometric validity. Prevalences and means of the obesity-related constructs were computed based on ethnicity, gender, and time. Results: Overall, NH youth had higher obesity and weight-related problems compared to non-NHs. In addition, they eat less nutritiously compared to non-NHs. However, NH adolescents had higher rates of physical activity than non-NHs. The results based on gender and time added complexity to the overall findings. Conclusions: This study found that the obesity health disparity found between NH and non-NH adults has its origin in adolescents—similar to other indigenous populations. Greater efforts are needed in prevention and intervention that could take advantage of the finding that NH youth engage in more physical activity, of the fact that more culturally appropriate interventions may be more effective, and so on. Future research should further disaggregate ethnicity data in Hawai‘i as well as examine national YRBS data.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. Compare Native Hawaiian adolescents’ health disparity of obesity with non-Native Hawaiian adolescents’ obesity using a state-wide data set from a national survey.

Keywords: Adolescents, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a researcher focusing on Native Hawaiian health for the past seven years. My research has been focused on chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adults. Currently, my doctoral dissertation research is focusing on Native Hawaiian adolescents to further prevent early onset of chronic diseases.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.