Secular changes in physical growth and obesity among southwestern American Indian children over four decades.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Most studies describing childhood obesity in the United States are based on cross-sectional surveys and do not include substantial numbers of American Indians (AI). Secular trends in height and weight reflect general health status. This study describes weight trends and transitions among AI children over a 43-year period.

Methods

Anthropometric data were obtained from a prospective study conducted in a southwestern US AI population (1965 through 2007). For cross-sectional analysis, 12 377 observations were available from 6529 children across four birth cohorts (1955-1964, 1965-1974, 1975-1984, 1985-1994). Participants were stratified into three age groups: pre- (5-9 years), early (10-13) and late (14-17) adolescence. Longitudinal analyses included 1

SUBMITTER: Vijayakumar P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5461213 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature