Abstract
Background
The population of the United States is becoming increasingly ethnically and racially
diverse, much of it due to immigration patterns. However, little is known about dietary
intake and weight-related concerns and behaviors of youth from some ethnic-minority
groups, especially Hispanic, Hmong, and Somali adolescents.
Objective
Our aim was to describe dietary intake and weight-related concerns and behaviors among
Hispanic, Hmong, and Somali adolescents and compare them with white adolescents.
Design
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from Eating and Activity in Teens
2010, a population-based study in the Minneapolis/St Paul metropolitan area.
Participants/setting
Current analysis includes 1,672 adolescents (Hispanic: n=562 [33.6%]; Hmong: n=477
[28.5%]; Somali: n=113 [6.8%]; white: n=520 [31.1%]; mean age=15.0 years). Adolescents
completed classroom surveys and had their height/weight measured during the 2009-2010
academic year.
Statistical analysis
Multivariable regression models, adjusted for socioeconomic status, age, and school
as a random effect were used to examine racial/ethnic differences for each outcome
variable for boys and girls.
Results
There were numerous differences in the behaviors of Hispanic, Hmong, and Somali adolescents
as compared with whites. Hispanic and Somali youth consumed fruit and fast food more
frequently. Hmong adolescents consumed sugar-sweetened beverages less frequently,
and Somali boys consumed energy and sport drinks more frequently than whites. Compared
with white boys, overweight/obesity was higher among Hispanic and Hmong. A higher
percentage of Hmong and Somali adolescents engaged in unhealthy weight control behaviors.
Body satisfaction was lower for all Hmong adolescents compared with whites.
Conclusions
There were varying areas of concern in dietary intake, weight, and weight-related
concerns and behaviors among adolescents in all ethnic groups. Future nutrition and
physical activity interventions that include adolescents from these ethnic and cultural
groups can benefit from, for example, modifying intervention strategies to the specific
priority behaviors within the target population.
Keywords
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Biography
C. Arcan is a research associate, Division of Epidemiology and Community of Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Biography
N. Larson is a research associate, Division of Epidemiology and Community of Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Biography
M. Story is a professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community of Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Biography
D. Neumark-Sztainer is a professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community of Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Biography
J. Berge is an assistant professor, Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Biography
K. Bauer is an assistant professor, College of Health Professions and Social Work, Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA; at the time of the study, she was a post-doctoral fellow, Division of Epidemiology and Community of Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 14, 2014
Accepted:
November 15,
2013
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This study was supported by grant no. R01HL084064 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute or the National Institutes of Health.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
