Abstract
BackgroundThe relationship between body weight and self-esteem among underserved minority children is not well documented.MethodsWe measured the self-esteem profile using the Self-Perception Profile for Children among 910 minority children at 17 Houston community centers.ResultsWeight status had no effect on any of the self-esteem scores among the minority children (P ≥ 0.21). Black children had higher scholastic competence than Hispanic children (P = 0.05). Social acceptance was not affected by age, gender, and race/ethnicity (P ≥ 0.13). Significant age x gender (P = 0.006) and race x gender (P = 0.005) interactions were detected on athletic competence. The younger boys had higher athletic competence than the younger and older girls (P ≤ 0.01). The older boys had higher athletic competence than the older girls (P = 0.008) but their scores were not different from those of the younger girls (P = 0.07). Within each race/ethnicity group, boys had higher athletic competence than girls (P ≤ 0.03). Black boys had higher athletic competence than Hispanic girls (P = 0.007) but their scores were not different from those of the Hispanic boys (P = 0.08). Age and gender had no effect on physical appearance but black children had higher scores than Hispanic children (P = 0.05). Behavioral conduct was not affected by age, gender, or race/ethnicity (P ≥ 0.11). There was an age x gender interaction on global self-worth (P = 0.02) with boys having similar scores regardless of ages (P = 0.40) or ethnicity (P = 0.98). However, boys from both age groups had higher global self-worth than the older girls (P ≤ 0.04) but their scores were not different from those of the younger girls (P ≥ 0.07).ConclusionsFor the first time, we documented that being normal weight did not necessarily guarantee positive self-esteem among minority children. Their self-esteem scores were similar to those found among children who were diagnosed with obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities and lower than those reported among normal-weight white children. Therefore, activities to promote self-esteem are important when working with underserved minority children in order to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Highlights
The relationship between body weight and self-esteem among underserved minority children is not well documented
This study describes the self-esteem profile in a large sample of underserved minority children living in inner city, lowincome neighborhoods in the United States and its association with race/ethnicity, gender, age and body weight
The children were recruited from economically distressed neighborhoods surrounding 17 community centers managed by the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) to make sure we had a representative sample of minority children living in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area
Summary
The relationship between body weight and self-esteem among underserved minority children is not well documented. Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportion in the United States, among minority children [1]. The 2008 Census (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/ obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm), documented over 5.4 million obese and 4.6 million overweight children and adolescents. A recent Thomson Medstat Research Brief (http://www.healthykidshealthycommunities.org/sites/ default/files/FactsAboutChildhoodObesity_2009-06.pdf) indicated that the annual national cost of childhood obesity in the United States is estimated at approximately $11 billion for children with private insurance and $3 billion for those with Medicaid. Using a multiyear data file from the National Hospital Discharge Survey between 1979 and 1999 for youth aged 6–17 years in the United States, obesity-related annual hospital costs were found to increase from $35 million during 1979–1981 to $127 million during 1997–1999 [4]. Abnormal liver enzyme levels have been reported among overweight and obese adolescents, those using alcohol [5]. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has been diagnosed with higher frequency among adolescents [6,7]
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