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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372711
Research Project: Preventing the Development of Childhood Obesity

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Title: One size does not fit all: Sociodemographic factors affecting weight loss in adolescents

Author
item CUMMINS, CLAIRE - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item BOWEN-JALLOW, KANIKA - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item TASNIM, SADIA - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item PROCHASKA, JOHN - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item JUPITER, DANIEL - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item WRIGHT, ALEX - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item HUGHES, BYRON - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item NUNEZ-LOPEZ, OMAR - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item LYONS, ELIZABETH - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item GLASER, ANDREA - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item RADHAKRISHNAN, RAVI - University Of Texas Medical Branch
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item SUMAN, OSCAR - University Of Texas Medical Branch

Submitted to: Journal of Obesity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2020
Publication Date: 2/25/2020
Citation: Cummins, C.B., Bowen-Jallow, K., Tasnim, S., Prochaska, J., Jupiter, D., Wright, A., Hughes, B.D., Nunez-Lopez, O., Lyons, E., Glaser, A., Radhakrishnan, R.S., Thompson, D.J., Suman, O.E. 2020. One size does not fit all: Sociodemographic factors affecting weight loss in adolescents. Journal of Obesity. 2020:3736504. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3736504.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3736504

Interpretive Summary: Successful behavior change needs to take into account social and cultural factors. Sociodemographic factors associated with differences in weight loss were identified for participants in a multidisciplinary adolescent weight loss clinic. Overall, receiving reduced cost meals was associated with a lower likelihood of losing weight. When examined by race, White adolescents were more likely to lose weight if caretakers had enough money to buy healthy foods. Black adolescents were more likely to lose weight if they reported eating fruits and vegetables. When examined by sex, females were more likely to lose weight if they were unhappy with their appearance. Alternatively, males were less likely to lose weight if they were unhappy with their appearance. To design effective obesity interventions for adolescents, developers need to understand how sociocultural factors such as race and sex impact motivation to lose weight.

Technical Abstract: Successful lifestyle changes for weight reduction are heavily dependent on recognizing the importance of societal and cultural factors. Patients 13–19 years of age with a BMI >=95th percentile are eligible for our multidisciplinary adolescent weight loss clinic. A behavioral questionnaire was administered at the initial visit. Patients were seen every 4–6 weeks. Bivariate analysis was used to identify sociodemographic factors associated with differences in weight loss. Overall, receiving reduced cost meals was associated with a lower likelihood of losing weight (kg) (p<0.01). When stratified by race, White adolescents were more likely to lose weight if caretakers reported having enough money to buy healthy food (p<0.05); in contrast, Black adolescents were less likely to lose weight (p<0.05). However, Black patients were more likely to lose weight if they reported eating fruits and vegetables (p<0.05). Female adolescents were more likely to lose weight if they felt unhappy about their appearance (p<0.05). Interestingly, male adolescents were less likely to lose weight if they felt unhappy about their appearance (p<0.05). Social and cultural norms influence weight loss in adolescents in unique and differing ways. Culturally competent individualized interventions could increase weight loss in diverse groups of adolescents with obesity.