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Seasonal variability in accelerated BMI change among high-risk children in schools and pediatric weight management programs

Lane, Taylor Scarlett (2021) Seasonal variability in accelerated BMI change among high-risk children in schools and pediatric weight management programs. Doctoral thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

Prior research has identified seasonal variability of accelerated BMI change in children. Despite their high risk for seasonal accelerated BMI gain, few studies have examined this trend among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and children enrolled in pediatric weight management (PWM) programs. This project had two primary objectives: 1) contribute to gaining insight into seasonal variability of accelerated BMI change among race/ethnic minorities, particularly AI/AN children, by studying longitudinal school-based data from southwestern US; and 2) gain insight into seasonal variability of accelerated BMI change in clinical PWM programs, both in a PWM in southwestern US, as well as a national dataset of similar programs. This project aimed to achieve these objectives by assessing seasonal variability of accelerated BMI change over time from a series of 3 secondary data sources: study 1) data from a southwestern US school district over 3 years; study 2) data from one southwestern US pediatric weight management program over 7 years; and study 3) data from a national sample of 37 PWM programs from the POWER registry over 5 years programs. Each study used linear mixed effects modeling to track change over time in percent of the 95th percentile of BMI, a more accurate outcome than BMI z-score. Across three large, diverse datasets of children, seasonal variability of accelerated BMI change was present, except for children who were healthy weight at baseline in study 1. Patterns of greater seasonal variability of accelerated BMI gain were observed AI/AN children and Hispanic children who were healthy weight compared to non-Hispanic white children who were healthy weight, but no seasonal differences existed across race/ethnicity among children who were overweight or obese. Summer is a high-risk time for accelerated BMI change for children who are overweight or obese, regardless of race/ethnicity and even among children who are enrolled in PWM programs. Study 2 results suggest wintertime could have equally negative impacts on BMI change as summertime. Considering time of year when designing childhood obesity prevention or intervention strategies could help fight the negative effects certain seasons have on BMI change.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Publisher’s Statement: © Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords: childhood obesity; Body Mass Index; American Indian children; Alaskan Native children; Seasonal variation
Subjects: R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
MeSH Subjects: G Phenomena and Processes > G03 Metabolic Phenomena
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status: Student
Department/Unit: Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations
College of Health and Human Services > Health Sciences
Date Deposited: 03 Feb 2022 18:44
Last Modified: 03 Feb 2022 18:44
URI: https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/5642

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