Trends of overweight and obesity among white and American Indian school children in South Dakota, 1998-2010.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among white and American Indian children in a predominantly rural state. DESIGN AND METHODS: Using a repeated, cross-sectional design of school children's height and weight, the study sample included 361,352 measures of children who were 5.0-19.9 years, attending school across 13 academic calendar years. Trained staff measured height, weight, and recorded gender, age, and race. Data were voluntarily reported to the State Department of Health. RESULTS: American Indian children consistently had higher rates of overweight and obesity compared to white children. Across the years, 16.3% of white students were overweight, whereas 19.3% of American Indian students were overweight. In addition, 14.5% of white children were obese and 25.9% of American Indian children were obese. Examining by rural versus urban schools, prevalence of overweight had been increasing among white male and female students and American Indian female students living in rural areas. Obesity is also increasing among rural white females and male and female American Indian children. CONCLUSIONS: The findings here suggest that although American Indian children are at higher risk, in general, compared to white children, rural populations in general are experiencing increases in childhood overweight and obesity. Targeted rural interventions beginning at an early age are necessary to improve the health of rural children, especially in American Indian communities.

The obesity epidemic in South Dakota: how big is the problem?

Obesity is an increasing problem both in the United States and South Dakota. Currently, 30.3 percent of South Dakota adults self-report being obese, which is higher than the national prevalence and also increasing at a faster rate than other states. The obesity rate for South Dakota 2- to 5-year-olds from limited-income households is 16.4 percent and above the national prevalence. Obesity prevalence among students Kindergarten through grade 12 was 16.0 percent for the 2009-2010 school year, not higher than national data.

High bone density in young Hutterite children.

We previously reported greater than average aBMD in adult Hutterites; however, it is unknown whether higher aBMD occurs at younger ages. We examined Hutterite children to test the hypotheses that aBMD Z-scores in younger (<15 years) Hutterite children would be similar to reference data; but greater in older children after they enter the adult workforce at age 15. A secondary aim was to determine lifestyle factors associated with bone measures among Hutterite children. Hip, femoral neck, and spine BMC and aBMD were measured in 323 Hutterite children aged 8 through 19 years: 186 (108 girls) were <15 years (younger) and 137 (87 girls) were >or=15 years (older). Anthropometric measurements and activity and dietary recalls were obtained. Overall, children were lighter (Z=-0.29+/-0.72 [mean+/-SD]), shorter (Z=-0.15+/-0.86, and had lower BMI's (Z=-0.27+/-0.70) than other South Dakota children residing in the same counties (all, p