Prevalence and Predictors of Overweight and Obesity among Young Children in the Children’s Healthy Living Study on Guam

Abstract

This study is part of the Children’s Healthy Living program in U.S. Affiliated Pacific region. The objectives were to estimate overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence and identify possible related risk factors among ethnic groups in Guam. In 2013, 865 children (2–8 years) were recruited via community-based sampling from select communities in Guam. Children’s demographic and health behavior information; dietary intake; and anthropometric measurements were collected. Logistic regression, odds ratio, t-tests, and chi-square tests were used to determine differences and assess covariates of OWOB. The results indicate that 58% of children were living below the poverty level, 80% were receiving food assistance, and 51% experienced food insecurity. The majority of children surveyed did not meet recommendations for: sleep duration (59.6%), sedentary screen-time (83.11%), or fruit (58.7%) and vegetable (99.1%) intake, and consumed sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) (73.7%). OWOB affected 27.4% of children. Children affected by OWOB in this study were statistically more likely (p = 0.042) to suffer from sleep disturbances (p = 0.042) and consume marginally higher amounts (p value = 0.07) of SSB compared to children with healthy weight. Among Other Micronesians, children from families who considered themselves ‘integrated’ into the culture were 2.05 (CI 0.81–5.20) times more likely to be affected by OWOB. In conclusion, the OWOB prevalence among 2–8-year-olds in Guam was 27.4%; and compared with healthy weight children, children with OWOB were more likely to have educated caregivers and consume more SSBs. Results provide a basis for health promotion and obesity prevention guidance for children in Guam.

Improving Willingness to Try Fruits and Vegetables and Gross Motor Skills in Preschool Children in Guam

“…The prevalence of early childhood overweight and obesity (OWOB) in 2011–2012 was 22.8% among 2–5 years old in the US [ 2 ]. In 2013, the OWOB prevalence among children 2–8 years old in Guam was 27.4% [ 3 ]. Early childhood obesity prevalence was also higher in Guam (13.2%) than the US (8.4%) during the same time and among similar ages [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Nutrition among Vulnerable U.S. Populations

“…In order to begin to fill this gap, this Special Issue on "Nutrition Among Vulnerable Populations" features papers quantifying dietary intake, nutritional status, access to food and food security, barriers to healthful foods and food security and environmental influences experienced by vulnerable groups with a high prevalence of food insecurity. The following sections summarize the findings of the four papers on children [13][14][15][16], three papers on adults [17][18][19] and three papers featuring studies of families or households (Figure 1) [20][21][22]. The diet, health and environmental associations linked with food insecurity or low resources among vulnerable child populations are featured in papers including samples drawn from rarely investigated young children living in Hawai'i, Guam and the Midwestern U.S., while a sample of children and adolescents included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provided nationally representative contrasts of the diets of food secure and insecure children.…”

“…Surprisingly, findings showed that Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Filipino infants ages 3 to 12 months from food insecure households consumed foods from more food groups and consumed fresh foods on a greater proportion of days compared with infants from food secure households [13]. A community-based sample of children 2 to 8 years old from Guam were the focus of another study evaluating health, lifestyle and dietary intake [15]. Approximately 80% were receiving food assistance, 51% experienced food insecurity and 27.4% were affected by overweight and obesity.…”

“…Approximately 80% were receiving food assistance, 51% experienced food insecurity and 27.4% were affected by overweight and obesity. Compared with children who had a healthy weight, children who were overweight and obese were more likely to have educated caregivers and to have a higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages [15]. These dietary and demographic associations with poor health outcomes among young children are important factors to consider in health and food security-promoting interventions.…”

“…Chidren Diet [13,14] Health [15] Environment [16] Adults Diet [17] Health [18] Environment [19] Households Behaviors to promote in interventions [20] Interventions [21,22] The diet, health and environmental associations linked with food insecurity or low resources among vulnerable child populations are featured in papers including samples drawn from rarely investigated young children living in Hawai'i, Guam and the Midwestern U.S., while a sample of children and adolescents included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provided nationally representative contrasts of the diets of food secure and insecure children. Starting with a national scope, the foods and beverages and food groups that were most frequently consumed and contributing most to energy among U.S. children ages 6 to 11 years and 12 to 17 years who were living in situations of food security and food insecurity among household children were determined and compared in a study by Eicher-Miller et al [14] using NHANES data.…”