Effects of socioeconomic status on the obesity knowledge of adolescents from six Latin American cities

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on the obes ity knowledge of adolescents in six Latin American cities. DESIGN: Data were collected using an anonymous, self-administered questionn aire consisting of demographic questions and a 25-item multiple-choice obes ity knowledge test. Test items were clustered under five topics: the fat an d calorie content of foods and beverages; weight loss methods; energy expen diture; food preparation methods; and the relationship between obesity and health. SUBJECTS: A total of 1272 ninth grade students from higher and lower SES fa milies were recruited at schools in Buenos Aires, Argentina (n = 195); Guat emala City, Guatemala (n = 212); Havana, Cuba (n = 213); Lima, Peru (n = 21 8); Panama City, Panama (n = 195); and Santiago, Chile (n = 239). RESULTS: Mean test scores reflected a low level of obesity knowledge among adolescents from higher and lower SES groups in all six cities. Nevertheles s, a trend for higher scores emerged in favor of adolescents from wealthier families. This income effect persisted after controlling for gender and we ight status. The weakest knowledge areas among youth from the higher SES gr oups were food preparation methods and the relationship between obesity aci d health while those for adolescents from the lower SES groups were the fat and calorie content of foods and beverages and the relationship between ob esity and health. Classroom instruction about obesity was generally more av ailable to students from the higher SES groups. The majority of adolescents from both SES groups were interested in learning more about weight loss me thods, energy expenditure, and the fat and calorie content of foods and bev erages. The topic of least interest was the relationship between obesity an d health. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings suggest a need for more obesity educ ation programs for adolescents, especially for those living in poverty.