Racial-ethnic differences in childhood higher body mass index: insurance status explanatory model

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurens Holmes ◽  
Sequoia Jackson ◽  
Alexandra LaHurd ◽  
Pat Oceanic ◽  
Kelli Grant ◽  
...  

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of obesity/overweight using higher body mass index (BMI), assess racial/ethnic variance in overweight/obese prevalence, and to determine whether or not insurance status explains the variance. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional design was used to assess medical records of children in Nemours Healthcare System during 2011. The authors reviewed the records and extracted information on normal BMI, BMI percent, higher BMI, prevalence of overweight/obese and other variables as well as race and ethnicity. χ2 statistic, Fischer's exact and logistic regression model were used to examine the data. Findings – Overall, the prevalence of higher BMI as overweight/obese was comparable to that of the US pediatric population, 33.4 percent. Compared to Caucasian/white, Asians were less likely to have higher BMI, prevalence odd ratio (POR)=0.79, 95 percent CI=0.70-0.90, but Blacks/African Americans (POR=1.22, 95 percent CI=1.18-1.27) and Some other Race were more likely to have higher BMI, POR=1.61, 95 percent CI=1.92-1.71. After controlling for insurance status, the racial disparities in higher BMI persisted; p<0.0001. Research limitations/implications – Racial/ethnic disparities exist in childhood higher BMI, which were not removed after controlling for insurance coverage as a surrogate for socioeconomic status. These findings are indicative of assessing sex, religious, dietary patterns, physical activities level, environmental resources, social media resources; and geographic locale as confounders in race/ethnicity and higher BMI association. Originality/value – Understanding the predisposing factors to obesity/overweight among diverse populations is essential in developing and implementing intervention programs in addressing this epidemic in our nation.

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Cheng ◽  
Zuchen Liu

Purpose The transition from high school to university poses many challenges for university students including dietary behaviors’ change and subsequent obesity risk. More tailored interventions and promotions to establish a healthier eating habit are needed to reduce obesity risks. The purpose of this paper is to investigate food intake differences on obesity risk among university students in China through exploring the differences of food intakes with gender, the year in college and body mass index (BMI). Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional study was carried in five universities which were randomly selected in all the universities located in different geographical areas of Beijing, China. The sample consisted of 631 university students whom aged from 18 to 25 years. t-tests and one-way ANOVA tests were used to find differences of food intakes with gender, the year in college and BMI. Findings Having more consumption of food with high protein, high fat and high sugar, but less consumption of fruits and vegetables, may give university students a greater chance to be obese, and food intakes were significantly varied in different genders among Chinese university students. Originality/value There is a lack of evidence for investigating the differences of food intakes with gender on obesity among young adults in China. Findings of this study indicated that the food intakes of male students might make them more prone to obesity than female students, and suggested more tailored interventions, food marketing strategies and promotions on controlling students’ food intakes for a healthier life are needed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 3700-3708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel Szulc ◽  
Michael Schoppet ◽  
Claudia Goettsch ◽  
Martina Rauner ◽  
Thomas Dschietzig ◽  
...  

Abstract Context: Myostatin is expressed mainly in skeletal muscle cells and acts as an inhibitor of muscle growth and differentiation. However, data on the determinants of serum myostatin concentrations in humans are limited. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the correlates of serum myostatin concentrations in men. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the STRAMBO cohort. Setting: Men holding private health insurance coverage with Mutuelle de Travailleurs de la Région Lyonnaise were included in the study. Participants: A total of 1121 male volunteers aged 20–87 yr participated in the study. Interventions: Nonfasting blood samples were collected. Main Outcome Measures: We measured the association of the investigated variables with circulating myostatin levels. Results: Serum myostatin levels increased slightly with age until 57 yr and then decreased. Circulating myostatin levels showed circannual variation, with the highest concentration in spring. In men older than 57 yr, serum myostatin levels decreased across increasing quartiles of body mass index and of total central and peripheral fat mass (P &lt; 0.05 to &lt; 0.001). Serum myostatin levels were positively correlated with serum levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD), even after adjustment for season. Average myostatin levels were 0.47 sd higher in men with 25OHD above 40 ng/ml, compared with those with 25OHD below 20 ng/ml (P &lt; 0.05). Current smokers had lower myostatin concentration. Neither current physical activity nor serum levels of PTH, testosterone, and 17β-estradiol were associated with myostatin concentrations. Conclusions: In men, circulating myostatin levels show seasonal changes and are associated with age, body mass index, fat mass, smoking, and 25OHD levels.


Author(s):  
Jayasree Basu ◽  
Amresh Hanchate ◽  
Arlene Bierman

We examine differences in rates of 30-day readmissions across patients by race/ethnicity and the extent to which these differences were moderated by insurance coverage. We use hospital discharge data of patients in the 18 years and above age group for 5 US states, California, Florida, Missouri, New York, and Tennessee for 2009, the latest year prior to the start of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Hospital Compare program of public reporting of hospital performance on 30-day readmissions. We use logistic regression models by state to estimate the association between insurance status, race, and the likelihood of a readmission within 30 days of an index hospital admission for any cause. Overall in 5 states, non-Hispanic blacks had a slightly higher risk of 30-day readmissions relative to non-Hispanic whites, although this pattern varied by state and insurance coverage. We found higher readmission risk for non-Hispanic blacks, compared with non-Hispanic whites, among those covered by Medicare and private insurance, but lower risk among uninsured and similar risk among Medicaid. Hispanics had lower risk of readmissions relative to non-Hispanic whites, and this pattern was common across subgroups with private, Medicaid, and no insurance coverage. Uninsurance was associated with lower risk of readmissions among minorities but higher risk of readmissions among non-Hispanic whites relative to private insurance. The study found that risk of readmissions by racial ethnic groups varies by insurance status, with lower readmission rates among minorities who were uninsured compared with those with private insurance or Medicare, suggesting that lower readmission rates may not always be construed as a good outcome, because it could result from a lack of insurance coverage and poor access to care, particularly among the minorities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi-Kyeong Choi ◽  
Yu-Jin Cho ◽  
Myung-Hee Kim ◽  
Yun Jung Bae

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in night eating status according to adolescents’ body mass index (BMI). Design/methodology/approach This was a cross-sectional study that included a total of 688 middle-school students. The subjects were categorized as underweight, normal weight and overweight according to their BMI, and their night eating intake patterns, night eating menu preference and intake frequency were compared and analyzed. Findings With regard to their night eating frequency, 39.8 per cent replied almost never, while 24.3 per cent replied once a week and less and 22.5 per cent replied two to three times a week. Among 11 night eating menus, the preference for fast foods, confectioneries, street foods and noodles was significantly higher in the underweight group than in the overweight group. The intake frequency of night eating menus such as fast foods, confectioneries and breads increased in the following order: overweight, normal and underweight group. The underweight group had a higher frequency of night eating, and they preferred to eat snacks more frequently from their night eating menu. Originality/value In conclusion, it is necessary to form positive dietary habits including nighttime eating for proper dietary management of adolescents.


Medicina ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Helena Karklina ◽  
Peteris Apinis ◽  
Liga Kalnina ◽  
Melita Sauka ◽  
Dzintars Mozgis ◽  
...  

Background and Objective. According to the data of epidemiologic research, the prevalence of both excessive and insufficient body weight is increasing in a pediatric population leading to the growing burden of health problems due to these changes. The aim of the study was to understand the current situation of physical development of 9- and 10-year-old boys and girls in Latvia and to estimate the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity among young adolescents. Material and Methods. During 2007–2009, a random sample of healthy 9-year-old (n=184) and 10-year-old (n=320) children from all regions and different socioeconomic groups of Latvia was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. The anthropometric measurements of height, weight, 3 circumferences, and 5 skinfolds were performed. The percentage of body fat was calculated by the equation of Slaughter et al. Body mass index and fat mass index were calculated for each respondent. Children were divided into groups according to these indexes. At the age of 9 years, 69.5% of boys had a normal nutritional level either by BMI or FMI, and 54.5% and 72.2% of the girls of the same age had a normal nutritional level by BMI and by FMI, respectively. Obesity according to BMI in 9-year-old boys was found to be 4.7% and in girls 6.1%; according to FMI, 3.7% and 2.3%, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in the cohort of 10-year-old children. Conclusions. The results of the research showed that the problem of high prevalence of Latvian children with underweight is not smaller than the problem of children with obesity. Evaluation of physical development in children based only body mass index may lead to overdiagnosis of obesity.


Biostatistics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina L Devick ◽  
Linda Valeri ◽  
Jarvis Chen ◽  
Alejandro Jara ◽  
Marie-Abèle Bind ◽  
...  

Summary The study of racial/ethnic inequalities in health is important to reduce the uneven burden of disease. In the case of colorectal cancer (CRC), disparities in survival among non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks are well documented, and mechanisms leading to these disparities need to be studied formally. It has also been established that body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for developing CRC, and recent literature shows BMI at diagnosis of CRC is associated with survival. Since BMI varies by racial/ethnic group, a question that arises is whether differences in BMI are partially responsible for observed racial/ethnic disparities in survival for CRC patients. This article presents new methodology to quantify the impact of the hypothetical intervention that matches the BMI distribution in the Black population to a potentially complex distributional form observed in the White population on racial/ethnic disparities in survival. Our density mediation approach can be utilized to estimate natural direct and indirect effects in the general causal mediation setting under stronger assumptions. We perform a simulation study that shows our proposed Bayesian density regression approach performs as well as or better than current methodology allowing for a shift in the mean of the distribution only, and that standard practice of categorizing BMI leads to large biases when BMI is a mediator variable. When applied to motivating data from the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) Consortium, our approach suggests the proposed intervention is potentially beneficial for elderly and low-income Black patients, yet harmful for young or high-income Black populations.


Author(s):  
Anda Botoseneanu ◽  
Sheila Markwardt ◽  
Corey L Nagel ◽  
Heather G Allore ◽  
Jason T Newsom ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Obesity and multimorbidity are more prevalent among U.S. racial/ethnic minority groups. Evaluating racial/ethnic disparities in disease accumulation according to body-mass index (BMI) may guide interventions to reduce multimorbidity burden in vulnerable racial/ethnic groups. METHODS We used data from the 1998-2016 Health & Retirement Study on 8,106 participants aged 51-55 at baseline. Disease burden and multimorbidity (≥2 co-occurring diseases) were assessed using seven chronic diseases: arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, lung disease, and stroke. Four BMI categories were defined per convention: normal, overweight, obese class 1, and obese class 2/3. Generalized estimating equations models with inverse probability weights estimated the accumulation of chronic diseases. RESULTS Overweight and obesity were more prevalent in non-Hispanic Black (82.3%) and Hispanic (78.9%) than non-Hispanic White (70.9 %) participants at baseline. The baseline burden of disease was similar across BMI categories, but disease accumulation was faster in the obese class 2/3 and marginally in the obese class 1 categories compared with normal BMI. Black participants across BMI categories had a higher initial burden and faster accumulation of disease over time, while Hispanics had a lower initial burden and similar rate of accumulation, compared with Whites. Black participants, including those with normal BMI, reach the multimorbidity threshold 5-6 years earlier compared with White participants. CONCLUSIONS Controlling weight and reducing obesity early in the lifecourse may slow the progression of multimorbidity in later life. Further investigations are needed to identify the factors responsible for the early and progressing nature of multimorbidity in Blacks of non-obese weight.


2019 ◽  
pp. 127-136
Author(s):  
Venti Agustina

Hipertensiadalah penyebab kematian utama di Indonesia. Kematian akibat hipertensi lebih banyak terjadi di perkotaan dibandingkan di desa. Tingginya kejadian hipertensi dipengaruhi oleh faktor yang dapat dikontrol (obesitas,berat badan lebih, konsumsi garam berlebih,aktivitas fisik rendah, perokok, dan konsumsi alkohol) dan faktor yang tidak dapat dikontrol (genetik, usia, dan jenis kelamin). Penelitian bertujuan memberikan gambarandistribusi tekanan darah dan indeks massa tubuh (IMT) pendudukperempuan di kota maupun di desa.Desain penelitian adalah deskriptif kuatitatif dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Data primer didapatkan melalui pengukuran tekanan darah, tinggi badan dan berat badan. Penelitian dilakukan di Desa Kutowinangun Kidul, Kecamatan Tingkir,Salatiga yang mewakili penduduk perempuan di perkotaan dan Desa Batur, Kecamatan Getasan, Kabupaten Semarangyang mewakili penduduk perempuan pedesaan. Adapun jumlah sampel masing-masing 66 respondendan 72responden. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kejadian penyakit hipertensi, resiko obese dan obese lebih didominasi oleh respondendi perkotaan dibandingkan di pedesaan dengan rentang usia di atas 46 tahun. Respondendi desa dengan indeks massa tubuh normal cenderung mengalami pre-hipertensi (8,3%) dan hipertensi stadium I (6,9%) sementararesponden dengan resiko obese dan obese cenderung mengalami hipertensi stadium I (1,4%).Respondendi kota dengan indeks massa tubuh normal cenderung mengalami pre hipertensi (6,06%), hipertensi stadium I (4,5%) dan II (7,5%). Responden dengan resiko obese cenderung mengalami hipertensi stadium I (4,5%), dan responden dengan obese I dan II cenderung mengalami pre-hipertensi (4,5%).   Hypertension is the leading cause of death in Indonesia. Deaths due to hypertension are more common in urban areas than in villages. The high incidence of hypertension is influenced by factors that can be controlled (obesity, overweight, excessive salt consumption, low physical activity, smokers, and alcohol consumption) and factors that cannot be controlled (genetic, age, and sex). The study aimed to provide an overview of blood pressure distribution and body mass index (BMI) of female residents in cities and villages. The study design was descriptive quantitative with a cross sectional approach. Primary data was obtained through measurements of blood pressure, height and weight. The study was conducted in Kutowinangun Kidul Village, Tingkir Subdistrict, Salatiga representing women in urban areas and Batur Village, Getasan Subdistrict, Semarang Regency, representing rural women. The number of samples was 66 respondents and 72 respondents respectively. The results showed that the incidence of hypertension, the risk of obese and obese was more dominated by respondents in urban areas than in rural areas with ages above 46 years. Respondents in villages with normal body mass index tended to experience pre-hypertension (8.3%) and stage I hypertension (6.9%) while respondents with obese and obese risk tended to experience stage I hypertension (1.4%). Respondents in cities with normal body mass index tended to experience pre-hypertension (6.06%), stage I hypertension (4.5%) and II (7.5%). Respondents with obese risk tended to experience stage I hypertension (4.5%), and respondents with obese I and II tended to experience pre-hypertension (4.5%).


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