Journal article
The relationship between relative weight and school attendance among elementary schoolchildren
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), v 15(8), pp 2157-2161
01 Aug 2007
PMID: 17712135
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
OBJECTIVETo determine the relationship between relative weight and school attendance among elementary schoolchildren.RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURESA total of 1069 fourth to sixth graders from nine elementary schools in the inner city of Philadelphia, PA, were part of an ongoing randomized control trial to assess prevention strategies for obesity. The mean rate of students eligible for free/reduced meals was 82.9 +/- 11.5%. Weight was measured in the second semester of the academic year. Absentee data for the entire academic year were recorded by homeroom teachers. Participants were classified into relative weight categories described by the Institute of Medicine: underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese.RESULTSANOVA showed that overweight children were absent significantly more than normal-weight children (12.2 +/- 11.7 days vs.10.1 +/- 10.5 days) (p < 0.05). Linear regression showed that the obese category remained a significant contributor to the number of days absent even after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and gender.DISCUSSIONThese data suggest that in addition to the medical and psychosocial consequences of being overweight, heavier children have greater risk for school absenteeism than their normal-weight peers. As the rate of childhood obesity increases, parallel increases in school absenteeism should be expected.
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Details
- Title
- The relationship between relative weight and school attendance among elementary schoolchildren
- Creators
- Andrew B Geier - University of PennsylvaniaGary D Foster - Temple UniversityLeslie G Womble - Temple UniversityJackie McLaughlin - University of PennsylvaniaKelley E Borradaile - Temple UniversityJoan Nachmani - School District of PhiladelphiaSandy Sherman - The Food TrustShiriki Kumanyika - University of PennsylvaniaJustine Shults - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), v 15(8), pp 2157-2161
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000249001800032
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-34548614727
- Other Identifier
- 991019312708704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Nutrition & Dietetics