Diabetes Risk, Low Fitness, and Energy Insufficiency Levels among Children from Poor Families

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2008-11, Vol.108 (11), p.1846-1853
• Main Authors: Treviño, Roberto P., MD, Fogt, Donovan L., PhD, Wyatt, Tammy Jordan, PhD, Leal-Vasquez, Liset, MA, RD, Sosa, Erica, MS, Woods, Charlotte, MPH
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: African Americans; Asian Americans; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Composition - physiology; Body Mass Index; Child; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - etiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diet - standards; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - adverse effects; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Energy Intake - physiology; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; European Continental Ancestry Group; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Insulin - blood; Internal Medicine; Low income groups; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Recall; Mexican Americans; Nutritive Value; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - etiology; Obesity - prevention & control; Pediatrics; Physical Fitness - physiology; Poverty; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.08.009

Abstract Background Low-income populations have higher rates of type 2 diabetes and it is the hope of the investigators to increase support for the dissemination of evidence-based prevention programs aimed at children from poor families. Objective To determine the prevalence of high blood glucose, obesity, low fitness, and energy insufficiency levels among children from poor families. Design The cross-sectional study conducted in fall 2001 used fasting capillary glucose, body mass index, body fat, step test, and three 24-hour dietary recalls to assess diabetes risk factor levels. Subjects Participants were 1,402 fourth-grade students aged 8 to 10 years. The racial/ethnic backgrounds were 80% Mexican American, 10% African American, 5% Asian American, and 5% non-Hispanic white. Statistical analysis performed All data were analyzed for descriptive statistics and frequencies of distribution. Means were computed by sex for all diabetes risk factors and t test conducted to determine differences between sexes. Results Nearly 75% of participants lived in households with