title: Retrospective chart review for obesity and associated interventions among rural Mexican-American adolescents accessing healthcare services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a retrospective analysis of data routinely collected in the course of healthcare services at a rural health clinic and to assess obesity incidence and associated interventions among rural Mexican-American adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twelve charts reviewed; 98 (46.2%) males and 114 (53.8%) females. Data extracted included Medicaid exams conducted at the clinic within 5 years. Equal overweight or obese (n = 105, 49.5%), versus normal BMI categorizations (n = 107, 50.5%) documented overall and by gender. Female obesity higher (25.4%) than national norms (17.4%); male rates (25.5%) were within national norm. Interventions provided by nurse practitioners (94%) for 34.8%-80% of overweight/obese had limited follow-up (4%). Obesity incidence markedly increased between 13 and 18 years of age without associated interventions; 51.4%-75.6% without interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity is a healthcare problem among rural Mexican-American adolescents accessing care at the rural health clinic. Obesity intervention and follow-up was suboptimal within this setting. Rural and ethnic minority adolescents experience health disparities concerning obesity prevalence and remote healthcare access.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity prevention and treatment during adolescence is a national health priority given physiologic and psychological tolls on health and potential for obesity into adulthood. Obesity assessment and translation of evidence-based interventions for rural Mexican-American adolescents at rural health clinics is implicated.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Jane Dimmitt
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services
keywords: Obesity; adolescents; ethnicity; interventions; nurse practitioners; overweight; primary prevention; quality improvement; rural