Gender differences in physiologic markers and health behaviors associated with childhood obesity.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have demonstrated gender-related differences in body composition, physical activity, and diet. This observational study assesses gender variance in independent predictors for obesity to determine targeted areas for intervention.


METHODS
Data from 1714 sixth-grade students enrolled in Project Healthy Schools were compared by using health behaviors and physiologic markers (lipids, random glucose, blood pressure, and resting and recovery heart rates). Students were stratified by gender and obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile by age and gender). Physiologic markers and behaviors were compared by using χ(2) analysis. Univariate associations with P < .10 were included in a stepwise logistic regression model to determine independent predictors for obesity by gender.


RESULTS
Nonobese students (both boys and girls) showed significantly healthier physiologic parameters compared with their obese counterparts. Two behaviors independently correlated with obesity in both boys and girls: regularly eating school lunches (odds ratio [OR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.64; OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.00-1.62, respectively) and watching ≥2 hours of television per day (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07-1.32; OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06-1.34, respectively). Vigorous physical activity and involvement in school sports teams appeared to be protective against obesity in boys (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.98; OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64-0.94, respectively), whereas milk consumption appeared protective in girls (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.98).


CONCLUSIONS
Among middle-school children, we observed gender-related differences in factors associated with obesity. Additional research is warranted to determine the beneficial impact of improving school lunches and decreasing screen time, while improving our understanding of gender-related differences in milk consumption and physical activities in relation to BMI.
Michigan Cardiovascular Research and Reporting Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Morgen
M
Govindan
Roopa
R
Gurm
Sathish
S
Mohan
Eva
E
Kline-Rogers
Nicole
N
Corriveau
Caren
C
Goldberg
Jean
J
Durussel-Weston
Kim A
KA
Eagle
Elizabeth A
EA
Jackson
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008612:Menu Planning; D008824:Michigan; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012572:School Health Services; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
cardiovascular risk factors; childhood obesity; community health; diet; physical activity