Assessing the influence of high school practices and community characteristics on adolescent obesity

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Publication Type dissertation
School or College School of Medicine
Department Family & Preventive Medicine
Author Metos, Julie M.
Title Assessing the influence of high school practices and community characteristics on adolescent obesity
Date 2012-05
Description This study examined the influence of federal obesity prevention policy on school practices and adolescent obesity. The study also examined the influence of community characteristics on adolescent obesity. A sample of all high schools participating in both the 2004 and 2008 School Health Profiles survey years was used to analyze practices over time. Adolescent and family attributes were obtained from the Utah Population Database. School characteristics were accessed via the Common Core of Data. Community characteristics were generated from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system data collected by the Utah Department of Health for 61 small statistical areas in Utah. Bivariate and multinomial analyses were performed to model the relationship of school practices and community level characteristics with adolescent overweight and obesity. Schools in districts with mandated wellness policy tenets were no more likely to report school environment or health education practices than schools with weaker or no policy tenets. Of the 42 school practices examined, only exempting students from PE was associated with the risk of obesity (RRa=0.76,95% CI: 1.16-1.74, p<0.02). Maternal obesity tripled the risk adolescent overweight (RRa=3.08, 95% CI: 2.54-3.76, p<0.001) and resulted in a six-fold risk of obesity (RRa=6.06, 95% CI: 4.988-7.52, p<0.001). The proportion of obese adults in a community was associated with adolescent overweight (RRa = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.04-1.24, p<0.008 ) and obesity (RRa =1.19,95% CI: 1.05-1.36, p<0.006). Community education level was protective for adolescent obesity (RRa=0.81, 95% CI: 0.69-0.97, p<0.024). Future research is needed to develop tools that assess the ability of policy initiatives to produce meaningful and sustainable changes in school practices. Adolescent obesity prevention policies and programs should address community disparities in adult obesity, income and education. To Doris Disbrow, Barbara Abrams and Zak Sabry who developed my interest in public health nutrition, to Tim Metos for his support and to Thomas and Grace in hope that you will have a healthy life, full of learning.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject MESH Pediatric Obesity; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Health Promotion; Secondary Prevention; Early Medical Intervention; Weight Reduction Programs; Body Mass Index; Motor Activity; Feeding Behavior; Physical Education and Training; Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Utah; High School Students
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name Doctor of Philosophy
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of Assessing the Influence of High School Practices and Community Characteristics on Adolescent Obesity. Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections.
Rights Management Copyright © Julie M. Metos 2012
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 843,412 bytes
Source Original in Marriott Library Special Collections, RJ25.5 2012.M47
ARK ark:/87278/s62262x1
Setname ir_etd
ID 196305
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s62262x1