Food consumption, activity, and overweight among elementary school children in an Appalachian Kentucky community

Abstract

In the U.S., child overweight is on the rise and is implicated in later adult chronic illness. Given that overweight is hardly tractable, prevention as compared to treatment is seen as a better alternative for lowering the risk of long-term health consequences. To increase the success of prevention efforts, many argue that programs must be "culturally sensitive and targeted toward specific populations at greater risk. However, there exists a limited understanding of how overweight is distributed across the landscape, among and within populations and groups. This paper reports the prevalence of overweight among 54 school children in a rural, Appalachian community with a high rate of poverty, and it compares boys to girls. Thirty-seven percent of boys and 10.3% of girls are overweight, based on the 90th percentile body mass index (BMI). Analysis of food intake indicates a pattern of food consumption that is high in fatty and sugary foods and low in fruit and vegetable consumption. Analysis of activity indicates that children report more low-intensity activity than high; that overweight children report more episodes of video/computer play compared to nonoverweight children; and that boys spend more time than girls in front of the computer/television screen.

Food Away from Home, Sugar-Sweetened Drink Consumption and Juvenile Obesity

“…As seen in other studies, it is a misconception that obese children and adolescents consume more "junk food" than the non-obese [26,28,29]. Our study confirms this for high calorie foods, not found in Canada's Food Guide, as a whole, but did show that potato chips are consumed significantly more often by obese youth.…”

“…Generally, obese and non-obese youth eat similar number of servings from the food groups which are below current recommendations [26,28,29]. In the current study the obese consumed more grain products and meat than did the nonobese, perhaps because of the amount of FAFH consumed.…”

Relationship between Physical Activity and Diet among African‐American Girls

“…To maintain energy balance, lower levels of physical activity should be accompanied by lower caloric intake (7). Dietary behaviors that have been associated with lower BMI include the consumption of fruit (8, 9) and vegetables (9). In contrast, high dietary fat intake and increased consumption of sweetened beverages are associated with increased caloric intake and body weight (10, 11).…”

Environmental Mapping Framework and Childhood Obesity in Selangor, Malaysia

“…Regarding the preference for dense-energy food and sugary drink, it showed that rural and urban school children have a similarity in higher fat intake (Crooks, 2000). The popularity of fast foods and soft drinks, less exercise, increased television viewing, and computer use are the common trends that influenced nutrition and lifestyle of the children today (Unnithan & Syamakumari, 2008).…”