POOR FITNESS AMONG U.S. TEENS AND ADULTS ASSOCIATES WITH INCREASED CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association adds additional evidence to the growing body of research associating physical inactivity and poor cardiorespiratory fitness with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as high total cholesterol and blood pressure levels, as well as low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago examined the prevalence of low fitness among U.S. adolescents and adults, younger than 50 years, who demonstrated no CVD symptoms. An estimated 16 million Americans in this demographic group, or 19.2% of the surveyed population, fall in the low fitness category. Adolescents proved the greatest percentage with 33.6%, approximately 7.5 million adolescents, having low fitness. Approximately 8.5 million adults (13.9%) had low fitness. Results were similar between males and females in the adolescent group, but in the adult population, low fitness was significantly higher among females. Non-Hispanic whites were more fit than non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican-Americans. Body mass index and waist circumference consistently showed an inverse association with fitness. Higher fitness groups showed lower total cholesterol levels, lower systolic blood pressure and higher levels of HDL cholesterol.

The authors suggest that low fitness is a significant public health concern and education efforts, similar to national campaigns to educate about the dangers of cigarette smoking, are justified.  Widespread educational programs promoting the health benefits of physical activity, along with revised public policy to make environments more conducive to physical activity, could be effective in reversing this alarming trend.

Citation:
Prevalence and cardiovascular disease correlates of low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents and adults. Carnethon MR, Gulati M, Greenland P . The Journal of the American Medical Association:2005;294:2981-2988.

To read the abstract, go to Prevalence and cardiovascular disease correlates of low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents and adults.

PREDICTORS OF WEIGHT GAIN IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE

A report in the Asian Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition provides an analysis of the predictors for childhood and adolescence overweight and obesity.  Understanding these factors can lead to improved clinical interventions and public health policy. Some predictors include:

• Familial association, substantially via shared genetic predisposition (The author points out that the rapidly increased prevalence of obesity in westernized countries, however, highlights the expanding role of environmental factors.).

• Socio-economic status, with higher prevalence among children in lower socio-economic strata.

• Early infant feeding, with breast-feeding being protective.

• Television viewing, with proposed mechanisms being increased exposure to food marketing, increased snacking, and increased sedentary behavior.

• Increased consumption of energy-dense, micronutrient-poor foods and beverages.

The association between dietary fat intake, glycemic index, and portion size to increased risk of obesity is unclear. Studies suggest that physical activity may protect against weight gain during the mid-childhood years.

Citation:
Predictors of weight gain in childhood and adolescence. Baur LA. Asian Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition.2005;14Suppl:S33.

To access the abstract, go to Predictors of weight gain in childhood and adolescence.

ORDER YOUR FREE MYPYRAMID FOR KIDS POSTER

We've now completed production on the full-color MyPyramid for Kids poster.  Reproducibles on the back include USDA's Tips for Families, A Close Look at MyPyramid for Kids, and MyPyramid Worksheet for Kids, as well as a "Dear Teacher" letter, a "Dear Family" letter, a family take-home activity/recipe, and a "What's Right for Me" master to help kids understand how much they should eat each day from the five food groups.  To order a copy of the poster, please e-mail MyPyramid for Kids poster and give us your mailing address. Be sure to put MyPyramid for Kids in the subject line.

VISIT www.zip4tweens.com TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT MYPYRAMID

If you're working with youth, you might be interested in checking out the new Web site just for 8- to 12-year old kids and their families.  Go to www.zip4tweens.com to find nutrition information, games, and a MyPyramid Calculation Station that shows kids and their parents how many calories and how much from each food group they should eat each day.  The new game, "Appetite Attack" is a fun and lively scramble to catch the appropriate amount of food and calories from each food group throughout four eating sessions over five days.

NEWSLETTER TOOLS

      Funded by Cattlemen's Beef Board         Managed by National Cattlemen's Beef Association