Study Examines Prevalence Of, Factors For Obesity Among American Indian Youth

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 04 Sep 2008 - 11:00 PDT

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"Factors Associated With Overweight Among Urban American Indian Adolescents: Findings From Project EAT," Ethnicity & Disease: The study looked at 246 American Indian boys and girls living in the St. Paul-Minneapolis region who participated in Project EAT, a population-based study of adolescent nutrition and weight. Forty-three percent of boys and 39% of girls were considered overweight, according to the study. In addition, the study finds that overweight American Indian youth reported watching more television and playing more video games than nonoverweight youth, as well as more use of weight control behaviors, less frequent snacking, less care about fitness, lower body satisfaction and more parental concern about their weight. The study recommends that prevention programs should focus on reducing television watching, screening for unhealthy behaviors, improving self-esteem and providing support for families (DeLong et al., Ethnicity & Disease, Summer 2008).

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