Longitudinal Data Analysis for School-aged Adolescents' Obesity Rates across the States

Abstract

The objectives of this research is to examine: 1) how the rates of adolescents' BMI change over time in terms of the state level; and 2) development difference in the state level of BMI in terms of children's obesogenic behaviors from 1999 to 2011. Data were drawn from the 1999-2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey in the United States (N=260, 293, grades 9-12, and 27 states). Ordinary least squares regression and hierarchical linear modeling were utilized to capture a longitudinal time effect of school-aged adolescents' obesity rates across the states, controlling for demographics and nutrition-and physical activity-related behaviors. The state's level of children's BMI percentile was significantly associated with longitudinal time. Longitudinal time effect across the states appears to play an important factor associated with children's decrease of BMI percentile. Therefore the states' implementation of physical activity and nutritional policies seems to be effective for preventing and reducing childhood obesity during last decade. More attention should focus on enforcing the policy and overcoming current barriers in order to minimize children's obesogenic factor.■ keyword :|Childhood Obesity|Longitudinal Data Analysis|States|Physical Activity|Nutrition|