Individual and Family Level Correlates of Obesity Among African American Adolescents
Open Access
- Author:
- May, Ashleigh L.
- Graduate Program:
- Human Development and Family Studies
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- March 24, 2008
- Committee Members:
- Dr Susan M Mc Hale, Committee Member
Leann L Birch, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Emilie Smith, Committee Member
Dr. Molly A. Martin, Committee Member - Keywords:
- obesity
african american
adolescents
parents
feeding practices
time use
activities - Abstract:
- The goal of the first study was to examine the links between patterns of African American parents’ feeding practices and adolescents’ weight status and related psychosocial outcomes. Adolescents and parents in 145 families participated in home interviews during which adolescents provided information regarding their parents’ (mother and father collectively) feeding practices. Adolescents also self-reported their height and weight, overweight concerns, depressive symptoms, and autonomy in decision making. Parents provided information regarding family background characteristics and other information as relevant to the study. Using latent profile analysis, three classes of parental feeding practices emerged: high autonomy, high restriction, and undifferentiated. There were differences in BMI across feeding classes. Youth in the high restriction class were heavier than youth in the high autonomy and undifferentiated classes. Girls and boys in the high restriction and girls in the undifferentiated classes were at an increased risk for heightened weight concerns relative to other youth. African American parents’ feeding practices are diverse and are associated with adolescent physical and psychosocial health. Targeting these behaviors in obesity and eating disorder interventions may have a positive impact on youth’s outcomes. The overarching goal of the second study was to examine whether patterns of youth out of school time use in physically active, media, and non-media sedentary activities were associated with adolescent BMI and related psychosocial outcomes. During a series of seven nightly phone-calls, youth reported their daily involvement (in minutes) in out of school activities and were then categorized based on whether or not they met current national recommendations time use. Only 25% of youth met the current recommendations for physical activity—whereas media and sedentary related pursuits were dominant. Girls were less physically active than boys; whereas boys spent more time in media related activities as compared to girls. Three activity groups emerged based on the number of recommendations that youth and dominant activities that youth were engaged in: (1) low activity (met two or more national recommendations); (2) high physical activity (met one recommendation); or (3) high sedentary/media (met no recommendations). Although, on average youth who took part in the study were of elevated weight status, youth in the high sedentary/media group had a greater proportion of overweight and obesity relative to youth in the low activity and high physical activity groups. After controlling for adolescent BMI, the activity groups did not differ in overweight concerns or depressive symptoms. The results of this study indicate that it is the overall pattern of involvement in various types of activity that is linked to adolescent health. Further, the results of this study suggest that there are two pathways to non-obesity—high physical activity or limited non-media sedentary activity. Future research and obesity prevention programming should consider how to promote developmental competencies in both areas among African American youth.