Ethnic Differences in the Distribution of Factors Associated with Obesity in Children

Ahmad, Naveed M.D., Ethnic Differences in the Distribution of Factors Associated with Obesity in Children. Masters of Public Health (Biostatistics), August 2002, 31 pp., 6 tables, 1 illustration, references, 24 titles. Childhood obesity has risen dramatically during the last few decades and the factors associated with it vary for different ethnicities. The purpose of this study is to find ethnic differences in the distribution of factors associated with obesity in children. The data used in this study was collected in a school-based study of 1,076 school children in Fort Worth, Texas. Obesity was found to be more prevalent in Hispanics and African Americans than in Caucasians. Reported factors associated with childhood obesity, that were more prevalent in Hispanics were: eating more sweets and less vegetables, not doing regular daily exercise and watching more TV. In African Americans children the more common correlates of obesity were: reported eating more sweets, fewer fruits, watching more TV, and not doing daily exercise. For Caucasians reported correlates of obesity were: eating more chips, and being less involved in active sports, when compared to African American and Hispanic children.