Puberty is the process of becoming sexually mature and it has fundamental somatic and psychosocial implications. The focus of this dissertation was the short and long term developmental significance, concerning both soma et psyche, of female pubertal timing. Four studies were designed to accomplish these aims. Six samples of different ages from different countries and from different time points, comprising several thousand females some of which were followed longitudinally, were used. Age at menarche was used as the primary measure of pubertal maturation. The first main aim of this dissertation was to explore the mechanisms that might explain the well-established link between female pubertal timing and problem behavior, and to identify contextual conditions at which associations are stronger or weaker. Existing explanations are unsatisfactory and little is known about conditions that might affect the strength of the associations. In Paper I, we tested and confirmed a peer socialization hypothesis as a satisfactory explanation for the link between early puberty and problematic adjustment. In short, this hypothesis posits that early developing girls associate with older peers and boyfriends because they feel more mature than their same age peers, and through these peers and boyfriends the early developed girls are channeled into more socially advanced behaviors, including normbreaking. This should be particularly true in contexts where heterosexual relationships are sanctioned and where there is an abundance of deviant youth. In Paper II, I used a biopsychosocial approach and studied pubertal timing along with self-perceptions of maturity and early romantic relationships. The findings revealed that early puberty had very different implications depending on the psychological and social contexts in which it was embedded. For instance, when early puberty was coupled with feeling mature and having early romantic relationships, it was associated with adjustment problems. When early puberty was coupled with neither, it was not linked to particularly high levels of problem behavior. In stark contrast to the vast literature on the role of female pubertal timing in adolescence, the literature on long-term implications is remarkably limited. For this reason, the second main aim of this dissertation was to study the adult implications of female pubertal timing. In Papers III and IV, we examined long term implications of pubertal timing, particularly as it relates to somatic development. The findings suggested that pubertal timing does have future implications for women’s body perception and composition, with early developing females having higher body mass indexes in adulthood, but only under certain circumstances. The findings of this dissertation help further understanding of the soma et psyche implications of female pubertal timing. They indicate that pubertal timing has concurrent and future implications. It seems, however, that timing is not everything. The developmental significance of female pubertal timing appears to be very different under different contextual conditions. Thus, it is only when girls’ psychological and social contexts are considered that fruitful predictions can be made. As such, the findings have important implications for prevention, policy, and practice.

Background: Population level child measurement is an established international practice. However, there is limited clarity around the protocol and roles of school-based child measurement programmes (CMPs). Furthermore, questions remain about the positive and adverse outcomes associated with CMPs, as well as their longer-term sustainability. This research contributes new information by addressing these key unanswered questions. Methods: This thesis describes a three-part, mixed methods research project incorporating: a systematic literature review of existing CMPs; an in-depth case study of England’s National Child Measurement Programme; and the development, pilot implementation and evaluation of a CMP in Guernsey. This research was conducted sequentially; individual components informed and guided subsequent work. Results: Routine child measurement is a popular, complex and adaptive practice and offers significant epidemiological value. The principal roles of CMPs are delivery of local prevalence data and assessment of longitudinal trends. However, CMPs are often tasked with additional, diverse and changing roles that do not translate to acknowledged outcomes. Specifically, feedback of individual results represents an unproven programme element. Programme roles can evolve according to political, logistical, or other influences, without consideration of available evidence or wider-reaching implications. There is no evidence of short-term harm from CMPs. Evaluation of the pilot CMP in Guernsey demonstrated that these programmes are perceived to be feasible, acceptable and sustainable. Conclusions: To maximise the broader utility of CMPs, there should be clarity and consistency around their aims, roles and outcomes. Overall, surveillance reflects the preferred programme type. All CMPs should incorporate a standardised, rigorously applied protocol and routine evaluation. These features are essential to ensure the accuracy and comparability of resultant data, as well as programme credibility. Population level CMPs should not function in isolation; instead, they should be integrated into comprehensive strategies for obesity management. This research has important implications for CMP stakeholders and the wider public health arena.

L’obésité est aujourd’hui un problème sociétal mondial. Dans les pays développés, l’abondance alimentaire a contribué au développement d’un environnement « obésogène » en favorisant la surconsommation. Ainsi, la promotion de choix alimentaires favorables à la santé représente un enjeu de santé publique majeur. L’objectif de cette thèse était de fournir une approche épidémiologique des choix alimentaires lors de l’approvisionnement et de la préparation des repas. Ce travail a été réalisé sur la population NutriNet-Santé, large cohorte prospective d’observation d’adultes français basée sur Internet.Au moment de l’approvisionnement, les logos d’information nutritionnelle ont été évalués comme des outils potentiels pour guider les consommateurs lors de leurs choix. Quatre logos ont été comparés : les Repères Nutritionnels Journaliers, les Traffic Light Multiples, le logo simple Pick the Tick et le logo 5-Couleurs. Des quatre logos testés, le logo 5-Couleurs était perçu comme le plus facile à identifier et celui demandant le moins d’effort à comprendre. Il était le plus efficace pour augmenter la capacité des individus à classer trois produits en fonction de leur qualité nutritionnelle. Enfin, en situation d’achats simulée en ligne, ce logo était celui qui permettait d’accroitre de façon la plus importante la qualité nutritionnelle du panier d’achat par rapport à une situation sans logo.Lors de la préparation des repas, un premier objectif était de comprendre l’ensemble des déterminants mis en jeu, cette thématique restant peu étudiée dans la littérature. Cinq grandes motivations ont été identifiées : alimentation saine, contraintes, plaisir, régimes spécifiques et organisation. Le fait d’attacher de l’importance à avoir une alimentation saine était associé à une alimentation de meilleure qualité nutritionnelle, ainsi qu’à une moindre susceptibilité d’être en surpoids. Attacher de l’importance à un régime spécifique était également associé à une meilleure qualité d’alimentation mais à un surpoids plus important. Malgré des associations significatives pour les autres motivations, les effets observés étaient de faible ampleur. Ces résultats soulignent l’importance de promouvoir des choix alimentaires favorables au moment de la préparation du repas.Le fait de planifier ses repas, c’est-à-dire prévoir à l’avance ce qui va être consommé sur plusieurs jours, a également été évalué. Globalement, les individus qui planifiaient leurs repas avaient une alimentation plus en adéquation avec les recommandations nutritionnelles et plus variée, bien que les résultats en termes d’apports en énergie et groupes d’aliments indiquaient de faibles différences. Ils étaient également moins susceptibles d’être obèses (et en surpoids chez les femmes).L’ensemble de ces résultats suggèrent l’intérêt de fournir des outils (logo, outils d’aide à la décision au moment de la préparation des repas et d’aide à la planification) afin de guider les individus lors de leurs choix alimentaires et ainsi améliorer la qualité de leur alimentation. / Nowadays, obesity is a global societal problem. In developed countries, food abundance has contributed to the development of an "obesogenic" environment by encouraging overconsumption. Thus, promoting healthy food choices is a major public health issue. The objective of this thesis was to provide an epidemiological approach to food choices during grocery shopping and home meal preparation of food. This work was performed on the NutriNet-Santé population, which is a large web-based prospective observational cohort of French adults.During grocery shopping, front-of-pack nutrition labels were evaluated as potential tools to guide consumers in their choices. Four logos were compared: the Guideline Daily Amounts, the Multiple Traffic Light, the simple Pick the Tick label and 5-color nutrition label. Among these labels, the 5-color nutrition label was perceived as the easiest to identify, and that requiring the least effort to understand. It was the most effective in increasing the capacity of individuals to rank three products based on their nutritional quality. Finally, in a situation of simulated online grocery shopping, this label was the one that allowed the most important increase in the nutritional quality of the shopping cart as compared to a situation without label.During home meal preparation, a first objective was to uncover all the determinants involved in food choices, since this topic remains little studied in the literature. Five motives of dish choice were identified: healthy diet, constraints, pleasure, specific diets and organization. Giving importance to a healthy diet was associated with a better nutritional quality of food, and to lower odds of being overweight. The importance attached to specific diet motive was also associated with better diet quality food but lower odds of being overweight. Despite significant associations for other motives, the observed effects were relatively small. These results underscore the importance of promoting healthy food choices when preparing meals.Planning meal, in other words deciding ahead the foods that will be eaten in the next few days, was also evaluated. Overall, individuals who planned their meals were more likely to comply with nutritional guidelines and had a more varied diet, although the results in terms of energy intake and food groups showed limited differences. They were also less likely to be obese (and overweight in women).All these results suggest the interest of providing tools (nutrition labels, tools providing assistance for decision-making when preparing meals, as well as for meal planning) to guide individuals in their food choices and thereby improving the quality of their diet.

The emergency of malnutrition, in all of its forms, and physical inactivity among children and adolescents as serious public health challenges, especially in resource-limited low- and middle-income countries is concerning and requires attention. Data on the prevalence of unhealthy weight status and levels of physical inactivity among children and adolescents in these low- and middle-income countries are limited, not systematically collected nor are they well documented. Accurate prevalence estimates, and an informed understanding of the relationships among movement behaviours and weight status of children and adolescents, are required to facilitate evidence-informed interventions and public health policies in these countries. The main purposes of this dissertation were to examine relationships between lifestyle behaviours and weight status among primary schoolchildren in Mozambique; compare body mass indices and movement behaviours of Mozambican schoolchildren to those of children from other countries; and use these findings to highlight important data gaps that exist in low- and middle-income countries. First, the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance’s Report Card development methodology was used to conduct thorough narrative literature searches, identify data gaps and research needs which subsequently informed research questions and primary data collection. A published protocol that was developed for the multinational cross-sectional International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment was adopted and used for primary data collection among urban and rural schoolchildren in Mozambique (n=683), to facilitate data comparability. Anthropometric (weight, height, percent body fat, bioelectric impedance, mid-upper-arm circumference, waist-circumference) and accelerometry (nocturnal sleep, sedentary time, various intensities of physical activity) data were objectively measured by trained personnel. Data about lifestyle behaviours (diet and movement behaviours), demographics and environmental (home, neighbourhood, school) factors associated with child weight status were collected using context-adapted questionnaires. As part of this dissertation, six manuscripts were developed and submitted for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Overall, the narrative literature searches revealed a dearth of information about prevalences of unhealthy weight status, and key lifestyle behaviours among children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. Results from data collected in Mozambique showed overweight/obesity to be an emerging public health concern, especially among urban children (11.4%), while thinness still persists and is more prevalent among rural schoolchildren (6.3%). Moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, active transport and mother’s body mass index were found to be important modifiable correlates of weight status for Mozambican children. Distinct differences in the prevalences and correlates of lifestyle behaviours (sleep and physical activity) were observed between urban and rural children in Mozambique. The findings showed that mean moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity was lower (82.9±29.5 minutes/day) among urban compared to rural Mozambican children (96.7±31.8 minutes/day). Compared to children from 12 other countries, on average, children from Mozambique had lower body mass indices, higher daily moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, lower daily sedentary time and comparable sleep duration. For example, rural Mozambican children had lower mean BMI z-scores (-0.5±0.9) than the rest of the sample (0.4±1.3), 46 more minutes of daily moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, and 99 less minutes of daily sedentary time than the other children. Furthermore, linear distributions of study site-specific body mass index (positive), minutes of daily moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (negative), and daily sedentary time (positive) by country human development index were observed. Compared to others, children from the urban Mozambican site closely resembled those from Nairobi Kenya on body mass index and movement behaviours, whereas those from rural Mozambique were distinctly different from the rest of the sample on many indicators. Findings from this dissertation highlight the importance of including participants from low, medium, high, and very high-income countries in multinational studies investigating contextual and environmental factors related to childhood weight status. The findings revealed important differences between urban and rural children supporting the need to include both in study samples and especially in low- and middle-income countries where the majority of people live in rural areas. Finally, findings from this dissertation have demonstrated that despite the reported global progress in the availability of data about obesity and related factors among children and adolescents, gaps still exist and need to be filled in low- and middle-income countries.

<p>Puberty is the process of becoming sexually mature and it has fundamental somatic and psychosocial implications. The focus of this dissertation was the short and long term developmental significance, concerning both soma et psyche, of female pubertal timing. Four studies were designed to accomplish these aims. Six samples of different ages from different countries and from different time points, comprising several thousand females some of which were followed longitudinally, were used. Age at menarche was used as the primary measure of pubertal maturation. The first main aim of this dissertation was to explore the mechanisms that might explain the well-established link between female pubertal timing and problem behavior, and to identify contextual conditions at which associations are stronger or weaker. Existing explanations are unsatisfactory and little is known about conditions that might affect the strength of the associations.</p><p>In Paper I, we tested and confirmed a peer socialization hypothesis as a satisfactory explanation for the link between early puberty and problematic adjustment. In short, this hypothesis posits that early developing girls associate with older peers and boyfriends because they feel more mature than their same age peers, and through these peers and boyfriends the early developed girls are channeled into more socially advanced behaviors, including normbreaking. This should be particularly true in contexts where heterosexual relationships are sanctioned and where there is an abundance of deviant youth. In Paper II, I used a biopsychosocial approach and studied pubertal timing along with self-perceptions of maturity and early romantic relationships. The findings revealed that early puberty had very different implications depending on the psychological and social contexts in which it was embedded. For instance, when early puberty was coupled with feeling mature and having early romantic relationships, it was associated with adjustment problems. When early puberty was coupled with neither, it was not linked to particularly high levels of problem behavior.</p><p>In stark contrast to the vast literature on the role of female pubertal timing in adolescence, the literature on long-term implications is remarkably limited. For this reason, the second main aim of this dissertation was to study the adult implications of female pubertal timing. In Papers III and IV, we examined long term implications of pubertal timing, particularly as it relates to somatic development. The findings suggested that pubertal timing does have future implications for women’s body perception and composition, with early developing females having higher body mass indexes in adulthood, but only under certain circumstances. The findings of this dissertation help further understanding of the soma et psyche implications of female pubertal timing. They indicate that pubertal timing has concurrent and future implications. It seems, however, that timing is not everything. The developmental significance of female pubertal timing appears to be very different under different contextual conditions. Thus, it is only when girls’ psychological and social contexts are considered that fruitful predictions can be made. As such, the findings have important implications for prevention, policy, and practice.</p>

Background: Childhood obesity is a critical public health problem. There is a crucial need to identify environmental factors that either encourage or prevent obesogenic behaviors. The home food environment is one of the primary environments in which children are exposed to food. Therefore, it is crucial to study how the home food availability influences dietary intake and weight status. Objective: This study examines parental report of household food availability of fruits, vegetables, and milk, and its association with child weight status and child dietary intake of these foods. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, based on surveys from 489 students in grades 3-12 their parents in 2009. Child participants were Destination ImagiNation® finalists. Child data collection included surveys based on the Youth Risk Surveillance Survey and anthropometric measurements of height and weight used to calculate child z-BMI. Parents self-reported their heights and weights and home food availability. Descriptive statistics were conducted and multiple linear regression was used to predict whether or not a relationship existed between home food availability, child weight status, and dietary intake of fruits, vegetables, and milk. Results: Overall, 12.5% of participants were overweight and 6.7% were obese. Approximately26% of participants consumed 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day and 17% consumed 3 or more glasses of milk per day. However, a no significant relationship was found between home availability of fruits, vegetables, and milk and the reported intake of these foods. Although a significant association was also found between parent and child weight status, no significant association was found between home food availability and child weight status. Conclusions: Compared to national data, a larger proportion of this sample was classified as normal weight and consumed the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables and milk. Parents reported high availability of fruits, vegetables, and milk products. However, no significance was found between the reported availability of these foods and weight status or dietary intake of fruits, vegetables, or milk.

In many African countries, including South Africa, much attention has been centred on the management of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis epidemics. However, there is growing awareness in South Africa that life-style related non-communicable conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, represent an important health priority (Pirie, 2005:42). The general objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment of diabetic patients in clinics on primary healthcare level and to determine what contributions can be made in the prevention of diabetic complications. The research method consisted out of the selection of the study population, data collection (questionnaire) and the data analysis. There was no structural way of deciding which patients would be selected to be interviewed. As the patients arrived for their appointments the interviewer was informed. No patient was forced to participate in this study and after they agreed to the interview, they signed a consent form that releases the University of any liability that may occur and to give their permission for the interview. The questionnaire was compiled which covered all the aspects of diabetes. This included diagnostic data, life-style, well-being, compliance and monitoring. The researcher completed the questionnaires whilst interviewing the patients. The data obtained from the questionnaires were statistically analysed by using the Statistical Analysis System, SAS 9.1. Effect size, which was given by the Phi coefficient, was used as a descriptive statistic. In this particular study population, the majority of patients were classified as type 2 diabetics. This can be viewed in table 4.8 where 62.14% of the total study population was classified as group B, which means that these patients use oral glucose lowering drugs to control their disease. A further 33.98% of the population was classified as group C diabetics, which means that these patients need oral glucose lowering drugs as well as exogenous insulin to maintain a healthy life. The latter group obviously consists of patients whose diabetic status was not under control in the past, thus the need for the insulin. This clearly shows that these patients have not been informed about how they can manage the disease by dietary modification and lifestyle interventions. Lifestyle, socio-economic and education played a major role in the development of this disease in these patients. The weight status of the study population was determined and can be viewed in table 4.15. Only 20.39% of them were of normal weight with a body mass index (BMI) ranging between 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2. 39.81% of them were overweight with their BMI ranging between 25 - 29.9 kg/m2 and the remaining 39.81% of the study population were classified as obese with their BMI's above 30 kg/m2. The majority (an estimated 80%) of the study population were above optimal weight. This may cause the development of chronic complications, such as retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. The socio-economic status of the study population was relatively poor because of unemployment. Although 90.07% of them said they had no difficulty to follow their diet (table 4.56) almost half of the patients said they had some difficulty to get the correct food for their specific needs (table 4.53). The first may be because they are still eating they way they used to with no modifications and the latter may be because of their financial status. Not being able to find work has a major effect on their lives. They cannot afford to buy foods suitable for their needs. As previously stated, patient education is fundamental in the managing and controlling diabetes. When these patients were asked whether they know what diabetes is, and what the complications of the disease might hold, most of them answered that it means they have 'sugar', and cannot eat sugary foods any more. This clearly indicates that they did not have a complete knowledge of their disease. After having explained to them in uncomplicated terms what the disease implicates, many of them said it had not been not explained to them previously and that they now understood it better. It was concluded that the majority of the studied population were under a false impression of what diabetes implied. This is partly due to the lack of time the clinic staffs have to spend with each patient, educating them about the disease. One aspect that was most obvious during this study was the fact that an estimated 20% of all patients studied had their own blood glucose monitor (table 4.80). This is somewhat concerning because to have optimal control over one's blood glucose levels, one needs to has a blood glucose monitor for regular monitoring. An estimated 70% of the studied population measures their blood glucose only once a month when they attend the clinic for their monthly visit (table 4.81). This is not nearly enough to ensure optimal control. The average blood glucose levels were calculated and described in section 4.7. Even with the minimal measurement, about 50% of these patients' blood glucose levels were fairly under control with an average of 6-9mmol/L (table 4.88). But the other estimated 50% of the population were not controlled with averages of either below 5mmol/L or above 9mmol/L. This is concerning because the possibility that these uncontrolled cases may develop chronic complications, might be unavoidable unless they start taking control of their lives. And for this to happen, these patients need all the possible education from qualified health care providers and the support of their families. Certain recommendations and restrictions were formulated and discussed. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

In many African countries, including South Africa, much attention has been centred on the management of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis epidemics. However, there is growing awareness in South Africa that life-style related non-communicable conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, represent an important health priority (Pirie, 2005:42). The general objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment of diabetic patients in clinics on primary healthcare level and to determine what contributions can be made in the prevention of diabetic complications. The research method consisted out of the selection of the study population, data collection (questionnaire) and the data analysis. There was no structural way of deciding which patients would be selected to be interviewed. As the patients arrived for their appointments the interviewer was informed. No patient was forced to participate in this study and after they agreed to the interview, they signed a consent form that releases the University of any liability that may occur and to give their permission for the interview. The questionnaire was compiled which covered all the aspects of diabetes. This included diagnostic data, life-style, well-being, compliance and monitoring. The researcher completed the questionnaires whilst interviewing the patients. The data obtained from the questionnaires were statistically analysed by using the Statistical Analysis System, SAS 9.1. Effect size, which was given by the Phi coefficient, was used as a descriptive statistic. In this particular study population, the majority of patients were classified as type 2 diabetics. This can be viewed in table 4.8 where 62.14% of the total study population was classified as group B, which means that these patients use oral glucose lowering drugs to control their disease. A further 33.98% of the population was classified as group C diabetics, which means that these patients need oral glucose lowering drugs as well as exogenous insulin to maintain a healthy life. The latter group obviously consists of patients whose diabetic status was not under control in the past, thus the need for the insulin. This clearly shows that these patients have not been informed about how they can manage the disease by dietary modification and lifestyle interventions. Lifestyle, socio-economic and education played a major role in the development of this disease in these patients. The weight status of the study population was determined and can be viewed in table 4.15. Only 20.39% of them were of normal weight with a body mass index (BMI) ranging between 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2. 39.81% of them were overweight with their BMI ranging between 25 - 29.9 kg/m2 and the remaining 39.81% of the study population were classified as obese with their BMI's above 30 kg/m2. The majority (an estimated 80%) of the study population were above optimal weight. This may cause the development of chronic complications, such as retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. The socio-economic status of the study population was relatively poor because of unemployment. Although 90.07% of them said they had no difficulty to follow their diet (table 4.56) almost half of the patients said they had some difficulty to get the correct food for their specific needs (table 4.53). The first may be because they are still eating they way they used to with no modifications and the latter may be because of their financial status. Not being able to find work has a major effect on their lives. They cannot afford to buy foods suitable for their needs. As previously stated, patient education is fundamental in the managing and controlling diabetes. When these patients were asked whether they know what diabetes is, and what the complications of the disease might hold, most of them answered that it means they have 'sugar', and cannot eat sugary foods any more. This clearly indicates that they did not have a complete knowledge of their disease. After having explained to them in uncomplicated terms what the disease implicates, many of them said it had not been not explained to them previously and that they now understood it better. It was concluded that the majority of the studied population were under a false impression of what diabetes implied. This is partly due to the lack of time the clinic staffs have to spend with each patient, educating them about the disease. One aspect that was most obvious during this study was the fact that an estimated 20% of all patients studied had their own blood glucose monitor (table 4.80). This is somewhat concerning because to have optimal control over one's blood glucose levels, one needs to has a blood glucose monitor for regular monitoring. An estimated 70% of the studied population measures their blood glucose only once a month when they attend the clinic for their monthly visit (table 4.81). This is not nearly enough to ensure optimal control. The average blood glucose levels were calculated and described in section 4.7. Even with the minimal measurement, about 50% of these patients' blood glucose levels were fairly under control with an average of 6-9mmol/L (table 4.88). But the other estimated 50% of the population were not controlled with averages of either below 5mmol/L or above 9mmol/L. This is concerning because the possibility that these uncontrolled cases may develop chronic complications, might be unavoidable unless they start taking control of their lives. And for this to happen, these patients need all the possible education from qualified health care providers and the support of their families. Certain recommendations and restrictions were formulated and discussed. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Übergewicht und Adipositas bei Kindern und Jugendlichen stellen ein weltweit zunehmendes Gesundheitsproblem dar und sind zur häufigsten chronischen Erkrankung des Kindes- und Jugendalters in der entwickelten Welt geworden. Nicht nur die Prävalenz der Adipositas ist in den letzten 25 Jahren gestiegen, sondern auch der absolute BMI. Die kindliche Adipositas stellt nicht nur ein kosmetisches Problem dar, sondern einen Risikofaktor etwa für Herzerkrankungen, Diabetes mellitus oder Störungen des Bewegungsapparates. Voraussetzung für erfolgreiche Präventions- und Interventionsprogramme ist ein Bewusstsein für Übergewicht und der Wille zur Gewichtsreduktion bei den betroffenen Kindern sowie bei deren Eltern. Diese Dissertation hat daher zwei Ziele: Zunächst wird untersucht, wie Kinder sich und ihren Körper im Vergleich zum tatsächlichen Gewichtsstatus einschätzen. Darüber hinaus wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob Eltern das Vorliegen von Übergewicht oder Adipositas bei ihrem Kind erkennen. Die Dissertation besteht aus einem Artikel. Darin wird gezeigt, dass die meisten Kinder und Jugendlichen sowie ihre Eltern die Adipositas als ein Gesundheitsproblem erkennen. Eine Mehrheit der Kinder und Jugendlichen schätzt ihren eigenen Gewichtsstatus realistisch ein. Die Mehrheit der Eltern erkennt zumindest Übergewicht bei ihrem Kind. Das Ausmaß wird jedoch häufig unterschätzt.

There has been an upward trend in obesity among African American (AA) adolescents over the last 2 decades. While parenting characteristics (e.g., styles and practices) are linked to adolescent eating habits and weight status, related research has focused on European American children from 2-parent middle-class households or economically disadvantaged AA children from single mother households. The purpose of this quantitative secondary data analysis was to investigate the relationship between parenting characteristics on the weight status of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (n = 325) among a broader population of AA mothers and fathers residing both inside and outside of the home. The social cognitive theory, widely used in obesity intervention research, was the framework used to explore parental behaviors that contribute to adolescent weight status and health. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 was used to examine the relationship between parenting characteristics on adolescent weight status, as measured by body mass index (BMI) percentile. Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis Test, Mann-Whitney U, Spearman rho correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results indicated no significant relationships between parenting characteristics and adolescent BMI percentiles as determined by Kruskal-Wallis and multiple regression analysis when controlled for sociodemographic variables. Study findings indicate that variables beyond parenting practices, such as urban/rural residence, must be considered to explain BMI and weight status among AA adolescents. Largely, this study increased knowledge on AA parenting characteristics and promotes education and social awareness of the continued weight epidemic that plagues AA children in the United States.