Optimistic Bias, Risk Factors, and Development of High Blood Pressure and Obesity among African American Adolescents in Mississippi (USA).

Monique S White,Clifton C Addison,Adrianne Clark,Brenda W Campbell Jenkins,Donna Antoine Lavigne,Vanessa Bland

doi:10.3390/ijerph14020209

Monique S White, Clifton C Addison + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14020209

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Abstract

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions and is linked to hypertension among African American youth. Optimistic bias influences behavior of youth causing them to underestimate their susceptibility to negative health outcomes. This study explored adolescent behaviors and prevalence of high blood pressure and obesity in a school district. We examined the relationship between individual health risk practices and optimistic bias on health outcomes; 433 African American high school students were administered a survey and had their obesity and blood pressure measured by the school nurse. Canonical correlational analyses were used to examine relationships between health risk practices and descriptive statistics for optimistic bias and health outcomes. Engaging in moderate exercise for at least 30 min in the last 7 days and lower blood pressure was the only statistically significant relationship. Two-thirds of the students did not perceive themselves to be at risk of developing cardiovascular disease with males at greater risk than females, despite the presence of clinical risk factors for hypertension and obesity. Reducing health optimistic bias is an effective way of motivating young people to adopt more positive behaviors using educational institutions to implement intervention programs that promote positive health behavior as a way to reduce health disparities.

Highlights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) processes begin very early in life and progresses as children become adults [1,2,3]
This study investigated the following hypotheses: Hypothesis #1: Health risk behaviors relate to the development of obesity and high blood pressure among adolescents
The analysis revealed no significant difference in the amount of physical activity, even though, in general, hypertensive and pre-hypertensive students reported less physical activity (Table 7)

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) processes begin very early in life and progresses as children become adults [1,2,3]. The prevalence of obesity among children is increasing worldwide and evidence demonstrates that obesity, poor dietary practices, and inadequate physical activity in childhood substantially increase the risk of being an obese adult [4,5,6]. Some studies have reported significant positive associations between some of the modifiable CVD risk factors and the presence of CVD symptoms [10,11]. By the time many young people are between the ages of 12 years and 19 years, they have already developed risk factors that place them. Public Health 2017, 14, 209; doi:10.3390/ijerph14020209 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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