A Model of Environmental Correlates of Adolescent Obesity in the United States
Document Type
Poster
Conference Title/Conference Publication
National Conference of Health Statistics
Location
Bethesda, MD
Conference Dates
August 24-26, 2015
Date of Presentation
8-25-2015
Abstract
Background: The prevalence of adolescent obesity is an ongoing public health concern. In the United States, 16.4 percent of children ages 10-17 are obese according to the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Adolescent obesity is influenced by physical and social attributes of both the proximal and the distal environment.
Objective: To test a conceptual model of proximal (home) and distal (neighborhood) environmental correlates of adolescent obesity.
Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study, using the 2007 NSCH, of 39,542 children ages 11-17. Structural equation modeling was used to test the fit of the model, identify direct and indirect effects of environmental correlates and determine reliabilities for latent constructs.
Results: The model fitted the data well (Root Mean Square Standard Error of Approximation, 0.038 (90% CI: 0.038 to 0.039), Comparative Fit Index, 0.950 and Tucker-Lewis Index, 0.934). Access to Physical Activity, Social Capital, Home Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity had direct effects on obesity (- 0.053, p less than 0.001; 0.017, p less than 0.001; 0.110, p less than 0.001; - 0.119, p less than 0.001). Neighborhood Condition had indirect effects on obesity through Access to Physical Activity, Social Capital, and Home Sedentary Behavior (- 0.001, p equal to 0.009; 0.032, p less than 0.001; 0.044, p less than 0.001). Access to Physical Activity had indirect effects on obesity through Physical Activity, Social Capital and Home Sedentary Behavior (- 0.013, p less than 0.001; -0.005, p less than 0.001; - 0.005, p equals 0.003). Home Sedentary Behavior had indirect effect on obesity through Physical Activity (0.052, p less than 0.001).
Conclusions: Results of this model fit to US population-based data suggest that interventions should target not only sedentary behavior and physical activity, but also parent perceptions of safety, access to physical activity and the neighborhood condition.
Recommended Citation
Nesbit, Kathryn C., "A Model of Environmental Correlates of Adolescent Obesity in the United States" (2015). School of Pharmacy Faculty Presentations. 6.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/phs-facpres/6
