Weight-related attitudes and behaviors in fourth grade American Indian children

Objective: American Indian children have a high prevalence of obesity, yet little is known about weight-related attitudes and the prevalence of dietin g in this population, This study assessed weight concerns, body size percep tions, weight reduction attempts, and weight loss methods in fourth grade A merican Indian children. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants (n=304) attended one of eight schools in the Pathways Feasibility Study. Question and answer choices wer e read to children by trained staff, and children marked their own answers, Results: Thirty-eight percent of the children reported that they had tried to lose weight, The most common strategy for weight reduction was exercisin g more. Girls were more likely than boys to be dissatisfied with their body size (48% of girls vs. 34% of boys desired a slimmer body size; 22% of gir ls vs, 15% of boys desired a larger body size; p<0.001). Children who had t ried to lose weight were more likely to indicate that the size they most de sired and the most healthy size were smaller than their perceived size (p<0 .001), Children who reported trying to lose weight were also more likely to want to be skinnier and to be unhappy about their weight than were childre n who did not report trying to lose weight (p<0.001 for both). Discussion: We conclude that weight loss attempts and weight-related concer ns are prevalent in American Indian children at a young age.