Date of Award

Spring 8-1-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Family and Consumer Sciences

First Advisor

Sarah T. Hawkins

Second Advisor

Rao Ivaturi

Third Advisor

Ernest Sheldon

Abstract

For the past several decades, there has been a steady increase in obesity in the United States. National surveys indicate that 64% of American adults are overweight or obese and more than 1 0% of preschool children are overweight. This study determined the prevalence of overweight in a group of preschool children aged between three and five years at a Head Start Center and evaluated the relationship of specific lifestyle factors between caregivers and their children and the relationship of these patterns to the development of overweight. The caregivers were asked to complete a questionnaire, which assessed specific dietary and lifestyle information of the children and themselves. Children's anthropometric measurements were also analyzed. Results indicate that 17.5% of our sample children were overweight and 25% were at risk of overweight. No significant differences were found between gender and ethnic groups, or in BMI-percentile distribution among groups. However, there was a trend for higher overweight prevalence among boys and among Caucasian children. Highly significant correlations were observed between children and caregivers in overall food consumption and activity patterns, as well as on individual food categories and types of activities. These strong associations highlight the importance of the family in establishing healthy lifestyle habits and the need for familial intervention in curbing the rapid rise in childhood overweight. Acceptable weight children showed significantly lV higher food consumption than under- and overweight children but spent more time on exercise and active play. This suggests that increased amounts of physical activities can help children to maintain an acceptable weight, despite higher food intake compared to that of overweight children. Regression analysis with the lifestyle factors did not identify any single most influential factor for overweight. It is likely that the combination of these modifiable factors work synergistically in the development and promotion of overweight.

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