[2016] Ruben Naranjo: Adolescent Obesity

Race and Gender Differences

Report

Prevention

Adolescent Obesity

Neighborhood DisadvantagesNeiborhood disadvantage is a significant predictor of female obesityFemales may fear being victimized in their neighborhood, so they stay in doors.Poor neighborhoods may not have supermarkets or recreation facilities avaliable.The rate of obesity levels off between moderately disadvantaged and the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Showing that there is a threshold where further economic and social decline has no further impact on obesity. Neighborhood disadvantage explained the residual disparity between African American and White females. African American females were less likely than white females to live in the most advantaged neighborhoods and White females were less likely to have lived in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Nicholson, L. M., Browning, C. R. (2012). Racial and ethnic disparities in obesity during the transition to adulthood: The contingent and nonlinear impact of neighborhood disadvantage. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(1), 53-66. doi: 10.1007/s10964-011-9685-z

Just in from the Center of Disease Control and PreventionObesity in adolescents has tripled over the past 30 yearsBetween 1980-2010, obesity in adolescents increased from 5% to 18%In 2010 one-third of adolescents were considered overweight or obese

RaceNon-Hispanic African American girls and Mexican-American boys, ages 12-19 have the highest rates of obesity, about 29.2 and 26.7 percent. Non-Hispanic White adolescents have the lowest rates of obesity at about 15.2. (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lester Lamb, Flegal, 2010).No significant differences between obese White and obese African American adolescents when it comes to psychosocial issues, such as depression. (Merten, M. J., Wickrama, K. A. S., Williams, A. L. (2008)GenderAdolescent females with obesity are linked to a lower status of attainment than normal weight females. (Merten et al. 2008).Obese adolescents, but only females, encompassed more depressive symptoms that normal weight adolescent females.Obese male adolescents are not experiencing low status attainment and depression the same as female adolescents.Also, neighborhood disadvantages are not a factor when it comes to male adolescents with obesity.

We Are at a Disadvantage

Causes and Health Risks

CausesPoor eating habitsOver eating BingingLack of exerciseFamily historySelf-esteemDepressionStressful situationsMedical illnessesMedicationsFamily and peer problemsHealth RisksShort-TermJoint and bone problemsSleep apneaSocial and psychological problemsprediabetesLong-TermHeart diseaseType 2 diabetesStrokeMany different cancersAmerican Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2011). Obesity in children and teens (79). Retrieved from http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Obesity_In_Children_And_Teens_79.aspx

Prevention strategies under fire