Factors Affecting Childhood Obesity Among Low-Income Households

Recipient Organization
USDA/ERS
1800 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON,DC 20036

Performing Department
ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE

Non Technical Summary
The project identifies prevalences of childhood obesity among low-income households and of food assistance program participation, and characteristics that may influence childhood obesity. ? To estimate and quantify the effects on weight status of selected socioeconomic factors, dietary patterns such as intakes of fat and cholesterol, and diet quality represented by the Healthy Eating Index.

Animal Health Component

90%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

90%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
610	5010	3010	100%

Knowledge Area
610 - Domestic Policy Analysis;

Subject Of Investigation
5010 - Food;

Field Of Science
3010 - Economics;

Goals / Objectives
To examine several aspects of childhood obesity among low-income households. Specific goals include: ? To identify the prevalences of childhood obesity among low-income households; ? To investigate and assess the likelihood of participation in food assistance programs, and maternal and household characteristics that may influence childhood obesity such as maternal obesity, diet and nutrition knowledge, and other factors. ? To estimate and quantify the effects on weight status of selected socioeconomic factors, dietary patterns such as intakes of fat and cholesterol, and diet quality represented by the Healthy Eating Index.

Project Methods
This project uses regression analysis to link household and maternal characteristics with child obesity. The growing prevalence of obesity and its occurrence at earlier ages are concerns of public health officials. Most previous studies have focused primarily on the causes and effects of obesity, and on issues related to health and nutrition. Similarly, studies of food assistance programs have emphasized factors that affect participation in the programs, and the effects of food programs on food purchasing behaviors and nutrient intakes. Few studies have attempted to link childhood obesity with food assistance programs. Research is needed on the determinants of childhood obesity and the effect of food assistance programs on the likelihood of obesity for the children.

Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/04

Outputs
Two journal articles have been published in 2005 (Food Policy [FP]and Internaitonal Journal of Obesity [IJO]), both analyses were based on data from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. The results reported in FP show that Black and Hispanic children seem to associate more with the development of at risk for being overweight and overweight. Poverty is another major variable that positively associates with overweight among school-age children. Frequency of physical exercises was found to be positively associated with normal weight and that sedentary behavior was negatively associated with normal weight and positively associated with overweight among children of ages between 12 and 18. The consumption of low fat milk, other dairy products, fruits and legumes are negatively associated with the probabilities of being at risk for overweight and overweight among school-age children. In contrast, increasing consumption of soft drinks, fat and oils, and sodium appear to be the major dietary factors that positively associated with childhood overweight. The results reported in IJO show that significant correlation between womenas BMI and age, race, dietary patterns, TV watching, and smoking were observed among women from both low-income and high-income households. Beverage consumption, eating out, the importance of maintaining healthy weight, and exercise were correlated with BMI only among women from high-income households. Among children, age, race, income, and motheras BMI were significantly correlated with child BMI.

Impacts
The research projects produce evidence to link body weight to economic, social, demographic, and lifestyle factors. A better understanding of the factors associated with overweight and obesity will help developing intervention strategies to combat this emerging health problem.

Publications

Lin, B., Huang, C., French, S., 2004, "Factors Associated with Women's and Children's Body Mass Indices by Income Status", International Journal of Obesity, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 536-542