Correlates and predictors of adiposity among Mohawk children

Background. High rates of Type 2 diabetes in Native populations underlie th e need for research on risk factors, including physical activity (PA) and o besity. Methods. In 1994 and in 1996, 103 girls and 95 boys [mean age (standard dev iation): 7.5 (1.3) years] attending elementary schools in two Mohawk commun ities completed a questionnaire assessing demographic and lifestyle variabl es. In addition, height, weight, and subscapular skinfold thickness (SSF) w ere measured and children performed a run/walk fitness (R/W) test. Gender-s pecific multiple linear regression assessed the impact of baseline variable s on the log of SSF at baseline and follow-up. Results. In cross-sectional analyses among boys and girls, the common corre lates of baseline SSF included failing to achieve the minimal fitness stand ard for the RAV test and being involved in summer sports. Additional correl ates identified only among girls included excessive television watching, lo wer PA, and involvement in community sports. Longitudinal predictors among girls were younger age, being from the comparison community, excessive TV, and PA. Among boys, only baseline SSF predicted follow-up SSF. Girls who wa tched excessive TV had SSFs 30 and 14% greater than those who watched less TV at baseline and followup, respectively. Conclusion. TV viewing was the only consistent determinant of adiposity amo ng girls. (C) 2001 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.