Gender and ethnic differences in health behaviors and risk factors for coronary disease among urban teenagers: the PATH program.
OBJECTIVE
To assess gender and ethnic differences among teenagers in heart health behaviors, risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), and cardiovascular fitness.


METHODS
Observations consist of cross-sectional data collected prior to a school-based health promotion intervention program.


METHODS
Teenage girls (N = 865) and boys (N = 497) from three New York City high schools. The ethnic composition of this sample was 20% Asian-American, 40% African-American, 25% Hispanic, and 15% white.


METHODS
Subjects were compared on the following: height, weight, body mass index, percentage body fat, total cholesterol, blood pressure, heart health knowledge, family history, socioeconomic status, dietary habits, smoking, physical activity, and estimated aerobic capacity. Differences were assessed with independent t tests, analysis of variance, and chi-square statistical techniques.


RESULTS
Compared with girls, boys were more active and had higher estimated aerobic capacity, higher systolic blood pressure, and better self-perception of health. Compared with boys, girls had higher cholesterol, percentage body fat, and heart health knowledge scores and ate fewer foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, salt, and simple sugars. Among girls, African-Americans had the highest blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and intake of foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sugar. Among boys, Hispanics had the highest body mass index and percentage body fat and the lowest heart health knowledge scores. White girls and white boys were the most frequent smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor health behaviors and risk factors for CHD occurred frequently among urban teenagers. In general, teenage girls had poorer health behaviors and a greater prevalence of risk factors than teenage boys, even though they scored better in heart health knowledge testing. Ethnic comparisons revealed poorer health behaviors and higher prevalence of risk factors in African-American and Hispanic teens compared with white and Asian-American teens. Results support the need for health promotion intervention among urban teenagers.
Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Queens College, Flushing, NY 11367-1597, USA. psf$hped@qc1.qc.edu
P S
PS
Fardy
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A
Azzollini
J R
JR
Magel
R E
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White
M K
MK
Schmitz
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D
Agin
L T
LT
Clark
M
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Bayne-Smith
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Kohn
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Tekverk
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D001213:Asian; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors