Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

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Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Obesity in adolescence--United States; Teenagers--Nutrition--United States; Exercise for youth--United States; Exercise for youth; Obesity in adolescence; Teenagers--Nutrition; United States; Academic theses;

Abstract

Overweight population in adolescent has increased dramatically in the last three decades in the United States. The increasing rate has become an important public health problem because obesity increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between body weight and physical activity behaviors, dietary patterns, and nutrition/physical activity knowledge by comparing the variables between those students classified as overweight group and non-overweight group. The study participants included 140 adolescents (66 boys and 74 girls) grade 7-8. Physical activity behaviors, sedentary behaviors, and dietary patterns were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. Height and weight values were obtained to calculate body mass index (BMI). Those who were at or above 85th percentile of the 2000 CDC age-sex specific BMI growth charts were classified as overweight group and those who were below 85th percentile were classified as non-overweight group. Prevalence of overweight in the sample was 28.6% and there was no significant difference between males and females (p>.05). Physical activity level was not significantly associated with overweight (p>.05). Overweight students tended to play less on a sport team. Physical activity knowledge was not significantly associated with overweight (p>.05). Overweight girls were more likely to play electronic games and use the Internet than non-overweight girls (p<.05), but such a tendency was not found in boys (p>.05). Overweight students were more likely to have a television set in their own bedroom than non-overweight students (p<.05). Food intake such as beverages and vegetables was not associated with overweight (p>.05). Dietary behaviors such as eating breakfast regularly, dinner in front of television, and family dinner on most days were not different between overweight and non-overweight students (p>.05). There was no significant difference nutrition knowledge score between overweight and non-overweight students (p>.05). Students who had a television set in their bedroom were more likely to watch television on two or more hours a day. Likewise, students who had a computer in their bedroom were more likely to use the Internet on two or more hours a day. The results suggest that sedentary behaviors were more strongly associated with overweight than physical activity behaviors, food intake, and dietary behaviors in adolescents. The associations between sedentary behaviors and overweight were stronger in girls than in boys. The placement of a television set and a computer in their own bedroom might lead to sedentary behaviors and hence, obesity.

Year of Submission

2006

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

First Advisor

Larry Hensley

Second Advisor

Robin Lund

Third Advisor

Oksana A. Matvienko

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

2006

Object Description

1 PDF file (111 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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