title: Ethnic/racial differences in the self-reported physical and mental health correlates of adolescent obesity.
abstract: Adolescent obesity has increased significantly during the past 20 years disproportionately affecting African-Americans. We tested the cultural hypothesis which suggests that the acceptance of a larger body size among African-Americans serves as a protective factor against negative physical and mental health consequences. Secondary analyses of data from a subsample of 5158 Black and White participants in the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were conducted to assess the relationship between weight status and global self-reports of physical and psychological health. Planned comparisons revealed support of our hypotheses for some outcomes but not others. Implications for interventions targeting adolescent obesity are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jackson State University, 350 Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. arthur.whaley@jsums.edu
authors.forename: Athur L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Whaley
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Anyaliese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hancock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology