Lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease by family origin among children in multiethnic, low-income, urban neighborhoods.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of lifestyle risk factors (LRF) for chronic disease by family origin (FO) among children in multiethnic, low-income, urban neighborhoods.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis.


METHODS
16 elementary schools located in disadvantaged, multiethnic neighborhoods in Montreal, Canada.


METHODS
4659 schoolchildren aged 9-12 in grades 4-6.


METHODS
Smoking, level of physical activity, dietary habits, body mass index, sedentary behavior.


METHODS
Subjects completed self-report questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors; height and weight were measured in a standardized protocol. Fourteen FO groupings were identified based on language(s) spoken and countries of birth of both subjects and parents. We tested FO as an independent correlate of having 2 or more LRF, using the generalized estimating equations method.


RESULTS
Relative to Canadian children, a higher proportion of Haitian, Portuguese, and other Central American/Caribbean children had 2 or more LRF, the proportion was similar among Cambodian, Vietnamese, Chinese, South American, East European, Arabic, Italian, and South Asian children, and lower among Salvadorean children.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevention programs for youth should take differential distribution of LRF by ethnicity into account.
Joint Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. jennifer.oloughlin@mcgill.ca
Jennifer
J
O'Loughlin
Gilles
G
Paradis
Garbis
G
Meshefedjian
Ayelet
A
Eppel
Slimane
S
Belbraouet
Katherine
K
Gray-Donald
D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000208:ethnology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D009509:New Brunswick / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data