Impact of the Harvest of the Month Program on Low-Income Hmong and White Middle School Students

Abstract

Increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are a significant health concern in the United States (US). 1 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents: United States, trends 1963-1965 through 2007-2008. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm. Accessed February 25, 2011. Google Scholar , 2 Reilly J. Childhood obesity: an overview. Children & Society. 2007; 21: 390-396 Crossref Scopus (34) Google Scholar California is home to the largest Asian population in the US. 3 US Census BureauThe Asian Population: 2000. US Dept. of Commerce, Washington, DC2002 Google Scholar Children from low-income Asian and Pacific Islander American families are joining other racial/ethnic groups in the obesity epidemic. 3 US Census BureauThe Asian Population: 2000. US Dept. of Commerce, Washington, DC2002 Google Scholar Specifically, there is a growing body of evidence that obesity rates are higher among Hmong youth than the national averages for Asian or non-Hispanic white middle school-age children. 4 Stang J. Kong A. Story M. Eisenberg M. Neumark-Sztainer D. Food and weight-related patterns and behaviors of Hmong adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007; 107: 936-941 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (32) Google Scholar Approximately 24% of the Hmong population in the US resides in California. They are typically first-generation refugees from Southeast Asia, and 55% are under the age of 18.