Childhood overweight problem in a selected school district in Hawaii

Abstract

Anthropometric measurements were collected from 1,437 public school students in a selected school district in Hawaii every year from 1992 to 1996. Results showed that boys and girls of Hawaiian ancestry (HA) are generally taller in stature and somewhat heavier in weight than their non-Hawaiian counterparts (Non-HA). Also, there are no clear differences between the two groups in BMI, sums of skinfolds, waist and hip circumferences, and waist/hip circumference ratios. When compared to data from NHANES III (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the median statures of HA boys and girls are very close to the median statures of NHANES III, but the body weights of HA are heavier at most ages. Also, the BMI values of HA are distinctly higher and their medians are closer to the 75th percentile of NHANES III. In addition, the values of the sums of skinfolds and the waist and hip circumferences of HA are also higher at most ages than NHANES III. These multiple anthropometric indicators suggest that there might be more overweight children and adolescents of HA. When compared to the statistics in NHANES III, there are twice as many HA and Non-HA boys and girls classified as obese. Clearly, a serious childhood problem exists among the children in this selected school district in Hawaii. More research is needed in other school districts in Hawaii. Also, it is suggested in this study that using multiple anthropometric indicators, rather than a single one, may be more accurate and appropriate in determining overweight problems in a youth population.

Systematic Review of Prevalence of Young Child Overweight and Obesity in the United States–Affiliated Pacific Region Compared With the 48 Contiguous States: The Children’s Healthy Living Program

“…Sample sizes varied slightly between models. Two of the 24 sources from the USAP only reported obesity prevalence 8,21 leaving 22 sources that contributed 206 data points for the overweight plus obesity analyses. Four sources did not provide a separate prevalence of obesity 26,32,34,35 ; thus, the model predicting obesity included 143 data points from 20 USAP sources.…”

“…Four sources did not provide a separate prevalence of obesity 26,32,34,35 ; thus, the model predicting obesity included 143 data points from 20 USAP sources. Six sources did not separate prevalence of overweight from overweight plus obesity 8,21,26,32,34,35 ; thus, 18 USAP sources contributed 130 data points for the model predicting overall overweight prevalence. The vast majority of the data sources for the USAP were from census or near censuses of children who were members of government organizations, such as schools, health care organizations, and WIC programs.…”

Collaborating with Classroom Teachers to Increase Daily Physical Activity: The GEAR Program

“…However, what typically was considered a result of growing older (i.e., being overweight), now affects an increasing number of children. In Hawaii, for example, the average level of obesity in children is higher than the national average (Chai et al, 2003). This finding, combined with the fact that subjects such as reading and math are given priority during the school day at the expense of physical activity, makes it imperative to promote a balance between the development of the mind and the body.…”

Parent and Friend Influences on the Multiple Health Behaviors of Adolescents in Hawai`i

“…Using multiple anthropometric assessments, approximately 24% of adolescents residing in were classified as obese; compared to 11% of adolescents (aged 12-19 years) reported via NHANES III statistics (Chai, Kaluhiokalani, Little, Hetzler, Zhang, et al, 2003). Asian-Americans are among the fastest growing ethnic minority population in the US (United States Census Bureau, 2009), representing a multitude of diverse subgroups (e.g., Japanese, Filipinos).…”