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BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is associated with adverse childhood and adulthood health outcomes. However, data are limited regarding relationships between health behaviors and childhood obesity among Maine children. We analyzed data from the 2009 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) to characterize prevalence and correlates of childhood overweight and obesity.
METHODS: MIYHS collects data from public-school 5th graders on self-reported behaviors and calculates body mass index (BMI) from measured height and weight. Data were weighted and appropriately analyzed for complex survey design. We determined prevalence of each BMI category per CDC age- and sex-specific growth charts: underweight (<5th percentile), normal weight (5th–<85th), overweight (85th–<95th), and obese (≥95th). We determined prevalence of 4 health behaviors: fruit and vegetable intake, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake, physical activity, and television viewing. We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), controlling for sex, race, and bullying status (as a mental-health proxy).
RESULTS: Among 2,986 students with complete data, 7% were underweight, 53% normal weight, 17% overweight, and 23% obese. On a daily basis, 28% reported consuming fruits/vegetables ≥5 times, 23% consumed no SSBs, 72% watched television ≤2 hours and 25% reported ≥1 hour physical activity; only 2% reported all 4 optimal behaviors. In multivariate analysis, watching television >2 hours/day was the only variable associated with overweight (aOR: 1.5; CI: 1.1–1.9) or obesity (aOR: 1.6; CI: 1.3–2.0).
CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity are common among Maine 5th graders. Despite known associations between obesity and diet and physical inactivity, only television viewing was associated with overweight and obesity. Our findings can shape intervention efforts to prevent and control childhood obesity in Maine.