Nutrition Research
Volume 23, Issue 10 , Pages 1391-1402, October 2003

Prevalence of overweight among adolescents from six Latin American cities: a multivariable analysis

  • Laura H. McArthur

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, Room 148 Rivers Bldg, East Carolina University, Greenville NC 27858, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1-252-328-1360; fax: +1-252-328-4276.
    • ,
  • Donald Holbert

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biostatistics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
    • ,
  • Manuel Peña

      Affiliations

    • Food and Nutrition Program, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Representative in Jamaica, Jamaica

Received 10 February 2003; received in revised form 3 July 2003; accepted 4 July 2003.

Abstract 

Eighth and ninth grade students (n = 1272) from six Latin American cities (Buenos Aires, Argentina, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Havana, Cuba, Lima, Peru, Panama City, Panama, and Santiago, Chile) completed a questionnaire to assess the association of city, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and age with the prevalence of overweight, satisfaction with weight, and recent attempted weight loss. Logistic regression was used to model these relationships.

Prevalence of overweight varied appreciably across cities. Overweight was more common among males from the higher than from the lower SES stratum, while among females this trend was reversed. Satisfaction with weight was lower among adolescents from wealthier than from poorer families, and was lower among females than among males. Attempted weight loss was generally more frequent among females than among males, and among older adolescents.

Results suggest a need for age and gender-specific, culturally appropriate overweight prevention programs for adolescents and their families.

Keywords: Adolescents, Gender, Body mass index, Socioeconomic status

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0271-5317(03)00158-1

doi:10.1016/S0271-5317(03)00158-1

Nutrition Research
Volume 23, Issue 10 , Pages 1391-1402, October 2003

Article Tools