Predictors for Persistent Overweight, Deteriorated Weight Status, and Improved Weight Status During 18 Months in a School-Based Longitudinal Cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To examine predictors for persistent overweight/obesity, deteriorated weight status, and improved weight status among students who participated in a school-based obesity prevention intervention from fall 2009 to spring 2011.


METHODS
Longitudinal assessment of a school-based cohort was conducted to determine the characteristics of students who remained overweight/obese, improved their weight status, or showed deteriorated weight status during an 18-month period.


METHODS
Eleven schools in southern Indiana, northwestern Kentucky, and southeastern Illinois.


METHODS
N = 5309 students in 4th through 12th grade.


METHODS
Weight, height, and self-reported physical activity and nutrition behaviors of students were measured at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months.


METHODS
SAS 9.3 was employed to examine predictors for the three different weight categories using logistic regression.


RESULTS
Low socioeconomic status (SES) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.56 and p < .001, AOR = 1.35 and p = .0069, respectively) and higher soda intake (AOR = 1.07 and p = .0016, AOR = 1.08 and p = .0278, respectively) increased the odds of belonging to persistent overweight/obesity (30.6%) and deteriorated weight status (6.9%), compared to the persistent nonoverweight status group.


CONCLUSIONS
While SES is an important determinant of weight category change, students' screen time and soda consumption may be important factors. Schools and families may be able to successfully focus on these modifiable risk factors, decreasing the burden of childhood obesity.
Dong-Chul
DC
Seo
Mindy H
MH
King
Nayoung
N
Kim
Danielle
D
Sovinski
Rhonda
R
Meade
Alyssa M
AM
Lederer
D000293:Adolescent; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D012923:Social Class; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
Children; Health focus: weight control; Longitudinal Cohort; Manuscript format: research; Obesity; Outcome measure: biometric; Prevention Research; Research purpose: modeling/relationship testing; School Health; Setting: school; Strategy: culture change; Study design: longitudinal observation design; Target population age: adolescents; Target population circumstances: 4th through 12th grade students; Weight; all races/ethnicities; northwestern Kentucky; southeastern Illinois; southern Indiana