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Degree

MS, University of Cincinnati, Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition, 2011.

Abstract

Objectives. To determine whether there are associations among body mass index (BMI), gender, race and socioeconomic status in third graders from Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS).

Design. Cross-sectional study

Participants/Setting. Participants were third graders (N=1,511) from 27 elementary schools located in the Cincinnati Public School district in Hamilton County, Ohio. Schools were selected based on percent participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which was chosen as an indicator of socioeconomic status (SES).

Outcome Measures. Weight status based on BMI category as indentified by BMI percentile.

Methods. Height and weight of third graders at each school were measured using standard practices with a scale and stadiometer. Measurements were taken throughout the 2010-2011 school year. BMI and BMI percentile were calculated using standard calculations by PowerSchool, an online program used by CPS to monitor and house various student data including race, gender and age. Data was then recoded for statistical analysis.

Results. A significant association was found between BMI category and participation in the NSLP (X2 =29.739, p<.001). There was also a significant association between BMI category and race (X2 =37.533, p<.001), with students classified as “other” race having the highest percentage of both overweight and obesity, while students in the white group had the highest percentage of underweight and normal weight. No significant association between BMI category and gender was found (X2 =3.647, p=.302). A significant association was, however, found between BMI category and gender within the highest quartile of participation in the NSLP (X2 =12.399, p=.006). Lastly, a significant association was found between BMI category and race within the lowest quartile of participation in the NSLP (X2 =16.686, p=.011).

Conclusion. While no association between BMI category and gender was found, African-American students and other non-white students were more likely to be overweight and obese, regardless of participation level in the NSLP. A significant association between BMI category, level of school participation in the NSLP, and gender was found, demonstrating that third-grade girls attending a school with a high participation in the NSLP were more likely to be overweight or obese than boys attending the same schools. Also, a significant association was found between BMI category, race and participation in the NSLP, indicating that African-Americans and non-white races still have an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity even in schools with higher SES status.

Subject Headings

Nutrition

Keywords

childhood obesity; obesity in third-graders; obesity and school children; socioeconomic status and childhood obesity; national school lunch program; race and obesity

Committee / Advisors

Graciela Falciglia, PhD (Committee Chair)
Seung-Yeon Lee, PhD (Committee Member)

Pages

24p.

Document number: ucin1313688230
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1313688230

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