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STUDY SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC
ACSM journal article probes relationship between childhood obesity, physical activity

INDIANAPOLIS — Scientists may have discovered a new trend in childhood obesity, according to research published this month in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise_®, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. In comparing physical activity levels among American children, researchers discovered that the most overweight and obese ethnic groups are also some of the most active. This work adds to a growing understanding of the complex relationships among physical activity, nutrition, weight management, fitness and health.

The study “Physical Activity in U.S. Youth: Effect of Race/Ethnicity, Age, Gender, and Weight Status” reports that of the three ethnic groups compared – Caucasian, black and Mexican American – Caucasian children are overall the least active. Black children, on the other hand, are the most active. This finding is surprising, experts say, because the highest prevalence of obesity occurs in some of the more active groups – black and Mexican American children.

“Contrary to our expectations, higher levels of physical activity were not associated with lower rates of obesity across the race and ethnic groups,” said Britni Belcher, M.P.H., the lead author of the study.

The research team, representing the University of Southern California and National Institutes of Health, compared 3,106 American children, looking at age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, physical activity and dietary intake. Accelerometers measured participants’ physical activity for four days, providing data on each child’s levels of sedentary, moderate, vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Researchers suggest that general predisposition to obesity, socioeconomic status and cultural differences in behavior may play a role in the study’s findings.

“This paradox may be accounted for by the fact that non-Hispanic white youth may spend more time in activities not captured well by accelerometry, such as swimming or bicycling,” said Donna Spruijt-Metz, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine and senior author. “These differences could also be attributed to the higher socioeconomic status found in the non-Hispanic white youth because higher socioeconomic status has been related to lower risk of obesity.”

The study also finds that children are less active after they hit puberty, as the 6-11 age group engaged in twice as much physical activity as children in the 12-15 and 16-19 age groups. Additionally, Spruijt-Metz and her colleagues find that males engage in more physical activity than females, irrespective of race or ethnic group. In fact, females of normal weight generally achieved less physical activity than their obese male counterparts.

Data from this study are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study, a cross-sectional health interview survey representative of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. All analyses were conducted in SAS 9.1 (SAS Institute, Inc.) using specialized procedures.

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The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 40,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise_® is the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, and is available from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at 1-800-638-6423. For a complete copy of the research paper (Vol. 42, No. 12, pages 2211-2221) or to speak with a leading sports medicine expert on the topic, contact the Department of Communications and Public Information at 317-637-9200 ext. 127 or 133. Visit ACSM online at www.acsm.org.

The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine

The economic downturn and skyrocketing food prices have forced most Americans to rein in spending, in an effort to keep monthly food costs in check. Not planning meals and not creating a shopping list are two mistakes that cost shoppers more in the long run. Planning is essential to eating well, especially when dollars don’t go as far as they once did. A healthy diet is affordable with a little planning, smart shopping and basic cooking skills. As fitness professionals, we can offer some budget-friendly shopping strategies that will help our clients find ways to eat well on the cheap.

Meal-Planning Tips

• Check your fridge and cupboards to see what you already have on hand that you can use.
• Plan meals around the best weekly store specials. Stock up on sale items if space allows.
• Use coupons only for items you already buy.
• Get inspired by exploring one of the many online recipe finders, or check out a cookbook from the library.
• Add more meatless meals. Meat is the most expensive part of a meal.
• Use leftovers, to save time and money.
• Keep a running shopping list and jot down items when you run out. To make shopping easier, organize the list around your grocery store layout.
• Keep all your weekly meal plans. In no time, you’ll have a monthly menu cycle and a “go-to” list of quick meals.

 Shop Smart 

Use these tips to “work the store” to your advantage:

• Stick with an organized list.
• Eat first. Hungry shoppers overbuy and usually purchase prepared (less healthy) foods.
• Shop alone if possible. A partner and/or children tagging along can quickly stray from the list and increase the food bill. However, shopping with kids is a nice way to teach them smart shopping habits, so if they come along, set expectations before leaving the house.
• Get a grocery store loyalty card.
• Shop the perimeter to fill up on fruits and vegetables, protein and dairy.
• Look for bargains near the ends of aisles and on the upper and lower shelves. Cheaper, generic store brands are typically found on lower and upper shelves and have the same nutritional profile as name brands.
• Compare unit prices of different product sizes and brands. Unit prices are found on the shelf tags below the food items.
• Buy in bulk.
• Make your own single-serving snack packs from larger bags of food.

Preparing Food at Home

 After shopping, dedicate a little time to organizing food at home.

• Divide large packages of raw meat into smaller meal portions.
• When you have time, brown meat and chicken, package them and freeze them for use in meals later.
• Clean and cut up vegetables for meals and snacks that will be eaten within a few days. Wait to wash others just before eating.
• Cook in batches, and freeze extras.
• Keep a frozen-food inventory so that unknown meals don’t get buried in the freezer.
• Toss food into a slow cooker in the morning so that dinner is ready when you get home.
• Use the plate method: fill half the plate with fruits and veggies, one-quarter with protein and one-quarter with whole grain.
• Cook with friends. Take turns hosting a small group to plan meals, share recipes and cook large batches of food. Package the meals for everyone to take home and freeze.