Child Policy Publications: Childhood Obesity
2012
Influence of Peers and Friends on Children's and Adolescents' Eating and Activity Behaviors — 2012
In this article, we synthesize the empirical literature on the influence of peers and friends on youth's eating and physical activity.
Junk Foods in Schools and Childhood Obesity — 2012
The availability of junk food does not significantly increase BMI or obesity among a group of fifth-graders even though they are likely to buy junk food.
School and Residential Neighborhood Food Environment and Diet Among California Youth — 2012
This study examines the relationship between school and residential neighborhood food environment and diet among youth in California.
2011
Changes in Body Mass During Elementary and Middle School in a National Cohort of Kindergarteners — 2011
Many children gained substantial weight in elementary school, especially in grades 1-3. Gains were not just among children who were already overweight or obese; children who entered kindergarten at normal weight also gained substantially.
Coexistence of Obesity and Anemia in Children Between 2 and 18 Years of Age in Mexico — 2011
This article carries out a secondary data analysis to determine the frequency of anemia in different categories of body mass index (BMI) and the frequency in which obesity and anemia co-occurred in children between 2 and 18 years of age.
Differences by Mother's Education in the Effect of Childcare on Child Obesity — 2011
Explores the effects on child obesity transmitted through cumulative months of non-parental childcare over the child's pre-school years.
Homophily and Contagion as Explanations for Weight Similarities Among Adolescent Friends — 2011
Weight-based similarities among friends stem from marginalization of overweight adolescents by their peers. These findings highlight the importance of modeling friendship selection processes when estimating social influence effects on adiposity.
Increasing the Availability and Consumption of Drinking Water in Middle Schools: A Pilot Study — 2011
The authors assessed the acceptability, feasibility, and outcomes of a school-based intervention to improve drinking water consumption among adolescents.
Mediators of Maternal Depression and Family Structure on Child BMI: Parenting Quality and Risk Factors for Child Overweight — 2011
Family environment—including parenting quality—is an important factor in influencing children's leisure activities, and thus interventions for child obesity may be more successful if they focus on family environment and its effect on children's active and sedentary behaviors.
Preliminary Healthy Eating Outcomes of SNaX, a Pilot Community-Based Intervention for Adolescents — 2011
This project developed and designed Students for Nutrition and eXercise (SNaX), an intervention aimed at translating school obesity-prevention policies into practice with peer advocacy of healthy eating and school cafeteria changes.
Regional Price Differences and Food Consumption Frequency Among Elementary School Children — 2011
Geographic variation in food prices across the US affects youth's consumption of fruit, vegetables and milk; price variation does not seem to affect consumption of fast food or soft drinks, perhaps because consumption is less price sensitive.
The Role of School Physical Activity Programs in Child Body Mass Trajectory — 2011
Meeting the national recommendation for physical education and recess at school can help prevent obesity in children.
2010
Evaluating the Impacts of School Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies on Child Health — 2010
Evaluates the impact of elementary school policies on child health behaviors and obesity in the United States.
Facility Provision in Elementary Schools: Correlates with Physical Education, Recess, and Obesity — 2010
The objectives were to: (1) document correlations among facility provision (availability and adequacy) in elementary schools, child sociodemographic factors, and school characteristics nationwide; and (2) investigate whether facility provision
Soda Taxes, Soft Drink Consumption, and Children's Body Mass Index — 2010
Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages have been proposed to combat obesity.
2009
Influences of Physical and Social Neighborhood Environments on Children's Physical Activity and Obesity — 2009
The authors investigated the association between physical and social neighborhood environments and fifth-grade students' physical activity and obesity.
Junk Foods in School and Childhood Obesity: Much Ado About Nothing? — 2009
Estimates the causal effect of competitive food availability on children's body mass index and other food- and school-related outcomes using an instrumental variables approach on a national sample of children.
Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Identify Potential Interventions to Overcome Barriers to Adolescents' Healthy Eating and Physical Activity — 2009
Using a community-based participatory research approach, we explored adolescent, parent, and community stakeholder perspectives on barriers to healthy eating and physical activity, and intervention ideas to address adolescent obesity.
Weight Status, Quality of Life, and Self-Concept in African American, Hispanic, and White Fifth-Grade Children — 2009
This study examined the association between weight status and quality of life (QOL) in fifth-grade African American, Hispanic, and white children and the potential mediation of this relationship by self-concept.
2008
Appetite for Change: School Meals Policy in the Limelight 2005 — 2008
This case study examines the Government's decision in 2005 to establish new nutritional standards for school meals.
Food Prices and Weight Gain During Elementary School: 5-Year Update — 2008
Childhood overweight has increased rapidly over the last two decades. Energy-dense foods are cheaper per calorie, which could be a partial explanation for why the highest rates of obesity are observed among groups of limited economic means.
Pediatric Obesity: The Unique Issues in Latino-American Male Youth — 2008
A literature review from three major databases reveals that obesity rates for Latino male children and adolescents are higher than for other major gender-ethnic groups. Obese Latino male youth are also prone to obesity-related morbidities.
2007
Adolescent Participation in Preventive Health Behaviors, Physical Activity, and Nutrition: Differences Across Immigrant Generations for Asians and Latinos Compared with Whites — 2007
The authors investigated preventive health behaviors, physical activity, television viewing or video game playing, and nutrition, among Asian and Latino adolescents living in the United States; assessed trends across generations; and compared each generation with White adolescents.
Commercial Venues as Supports for Physical Activity in Adolescent Girls — 2007
The findings suggest that commercial PA facilities are important contributors to the accumulation of PA among adolescent girls.
Comparing Perceived and Objectively Measured Access to Recreational Facilities as Predictors of Physical Activity in Adolescent Girls — 2007
Raising the profile of existing facilities may help increase physical activity among adolescent girls.
RAND® is a registered trademark. Copyright © 1994-2012 RAND Corporation.