Obesity prevalent among County teen-agers > Study by Caribou hospital cites TV, lack of information

CARIBOU — Television watching and lack of information on exercise and nutrition is causing a high incidence of obesity in teen-agers in four Aroostook County high schools, according to a study by the Cary Medical Center.

The survey — funded by a Community Health Grant — was conducted to measure knowledge for nutrition needs related to fat control; to evaluate nutrition concepts; and to assess eating and exercise habits and weight status of students in Northern Maine, according to Connie McLellan, study organizer.

Participating in the study were 379 sophomore students (48 percent female, 52 percent male). There were 175 students from Caribou High School, 93 from Limestone Junior-Senior High School, 65 from Fort Fairfield High School and 46 from Van Buren High School. The sample surveys were administered by a student intern and school nurses between December 1990 and February 1991.

“Considering the economic base in Aroostook County is the lowest in Maine, we would assume the incidence of obesity would be higher in our population,” said Connie McLellan, study organizer.

Twenty-seven percent of the total sample weighed more than expected for height and age. The survey said the highest incidence of overweight teen-agers was at Fort Fairfield High School. Related to the obesity problems were environmental factors such as an open campus or low availability of after-school and weekend programs.

Study results said the number of hours spent watching television was positively related to obesity and the level of socio-economic class and parental education may be related to prevalence of obesity in one location compared with another.

Television watching was considered the easiest to change and may be the most appropriate way to prevent and treat obesity, the study said. Offerings of nutrition and exercise classes were crucial for treatment of adolescent obesity.

Females were twice as likely to go on diets as males, with physical appearance listed as a major reason for dieting.

The study said 49 percent of the respondents ate breakfast five or more times per week. A total of 72 percent ate lunch and 89 percent ate supper five or more times per week. Ninety-seven percent of students ate snacks, with 65 percent selecting chips and snack crackers, followed by cookies and candy. Fifty percent selected fruits and 35 percent chose cheese or milk.

Thirty percent of the students said they ate when they were feeling sad and 66 percent said they ate when bored. Seventy-seven percent of students made their own meals and 38 percent said parents “nagged” them about what they ate.

Sixteen percent of the students said they smoked two to 20 cigarettes per day. Smokers on average were a little heavier than non-smokers, but not significantly, with obesity and the number of cigarettes not correlated, according to the survey.

The results will be offered to area schools and health care facilities for development of intervention programs to help meet national Year 2000 school objectives.