High Prevalence of Obesity Among Inner-City Adolescent Boys in the Bronx, New York: Forgetting - Preventing Chronic Disease: January 2011: 10_0009

BRIEF
High Prevalence of Obesity Among Inner-City Adolescent Boys in the Bronx, New York: Forgetting Our Boys

Carmen R. Isasi, MD, PhD; Amy Whiffen; Eleanor Campbell; Yolanda Florez; Katherine Freeman; Judith Wylie-Rosett

Suggested citation for this article: Isasi CR, Whiffen A, Campbell E, Florez Y, Freeman K, Wylie-Rosett J. High prevalence of obesity among inner-city adolescent boys in the Bronx, New York: forgetting our boys. Prev Chronic Dis 2011;8(1). http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/jan/10_0009.htm. Accessed [date].

PEER REVIEWED
Abstract

We examined sex differences in overweight and obesity in a sample of 1,619 inner-city adolescents. Participants were enrolled from 11 public schools in the Bronx, New York. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 21.7% and 22.5%, respectively; prevalence of obesity was significantly higher among adolescent boys than adolescent girls (24.9 vs 20.1%). Childhood obesity is a public health concern in the United States, and the higher prevalence of obesity in adolescent boys requires additional attention.


Objective

Childhood obesity is a growing concern in the United States. Data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show that excess weight is associated with metabolic abnormalities such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance (1). National surveys have reported a prevalence of overweight and of obesity of 34% and 18%, respectively, among youth aged 12 to 19 years (2). Low-income and minority youth, particularly Hispanics and African Americans, are the most affected (2-5).

Findings from recent studies challenge the common assumption that girls are at higher risk of overweight and obesity than boys (5,6). Among Mexican American adolescents, boys also have a higher prevalence of obesity than girls (6). A recent analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a national representative sample of adolescents in grades 7 through 12, found that during early adolescence, boys have a higher body mass index (BMI) than girls, although girls have a faster increase in BMI over the years (7). This disparity appears to persist as teenagers get older, but by age 20 the prevalence of obesity in adolescent girls gets closer to or higher than that of boys (6,7). Despite this reversal, a high prevalence of obesity among adolescent boys is still of concern. The Add Health study showed that 88% of adolescent boys remained obese as young adults (8).

The purpose of our study was to examine sex differences in overweight and obesity among inner-city adolescents in the Bronx, New York. Factors associated with excess weight may vary by sex, and treatment approaches may need to take into account these differences.

full-text [english only]:
Preventing Chronic Disease: January 2011: 10_0009



Brief in spanish
ARTÍCULOS BREVES
Alta prevalencia de obesidad en varones adolescentes de zonas urbanas deprimidas en el Bronx, Nueva York: Nos olvidamos de nuestros muchachos

Carmen R. Isasi, MD, PhD; Amy Whiffen; Eleanor Campbell; Yolanda Florez; Katherine Freeman; Judith Wylie-Rosett

Citación sugerida para este artículo: Isasi CR, Whiffen A, Campbell E, Florez Y, Freeman K, Wylie-Rosett J. Alta prevalencia de obesidad en varones adolescentes de zonas urbanas deprimidas en el Bronx, Nueva York: Nos olvidamos de nuestros muchachos. Prev Chronic Dis 2011;8(1). http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/jan/10_0009_es.htm. Consulta: [fecha].

REVISADO POR EXPERTOS
Resumen

Examinamos las diferencias por sexo con relación a la obesidad y el sobrepeso en una muestra de 1,619 adolescentes de zonas urbanas deprimidas. Los participantes estaban inscritos en 11 escuelas públicas en el Bronx, Nueva York. La prevalencia de obesidad y sobrepeso fue de 21.7% y 22.5%, respectivamente; la prevalencia de obesidad fue significativamente más alta entre los varones adolescentes que en las niñas adolescentes (24.9 frente a 20.1%). La obesidad infantil es una preocupación de salud pública en los Estados Unidos y la tasa de prevalencia de obesidad más alta en los varones adolescentes requiere de atención adicional.