Overweight and Obesity Prevalence and Trends Among Mississippi Public School Students: A Decade of Data Between 2005 and 2015.

This study estimated. the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mississippi public school students in grades K-12 and examined changes between 2005 and 2015. In 2015, the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and both combined remained higher than national averages, yet the rates have neither increased nor decreased significantly since 2005 (p = 0.6904). In 2015, as with all previous years, there was no difference between boys and girls (p=0.570). As in all previous years, the prevalence of obesity in 2015 was significantly higher among black students (p < 0.001) than among white students. Similar to 2011 and 2013, there was a significant difference by grade level in 2015 (p=0.0029), with the lowest prevalence again among the elementary students. The significant linear decrease in obesity prevalence among elementary school students observed during 2013 continued to 2015 (p = 0.0209). Trends are discussed in the context of state policy and recent research.

Prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity among Mississippi public school students, 2005-2013.

This study estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mississippi public school students in grades K-12 and assessed changes in the prevalence between 2005 and 2013. In 2013, Body Mass Index was calculated using measured height and weight data for a weighted representative sample of 4,402 public school students. Additional analyses compared 2013 prevalence estimates by gender, race, and grade levels and for changes between 2005 and 2013. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among public school students no longer appears to be increasing although no significant downward trend was observed (p = 0.0862), and rates remain higher than national averages. In 2013, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity for all students in grades K-12 was 41.8%, as compared to 40.9% in 2011, 42.4% in 2009, 42.1% in 2007 and 43.9% in 2005. Significant decreases in overweight and obesity were found among white students and elementary school students from 2005 to 2013. White students' combined rates fell from 40.6% in 2005 to 36.8% in 2013 (p = 0.0007). Similarly, combined rates in elementary school students dropped from 43.0% in 2005 to 38.0% in 2013 (p = 0.0002). Additionally, 2013 marked the first year that a significant decline in obesity prevalence was noted among elementary school students, from 25.0% in 2005 to 22.0% in 2013 (p = 0.0163). In 2013, the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher among black students (p < 0.001) and middle school students (p = 0.048). These findings are discussed in light of recent state-wide educational and policy initiatives and on health disparities. Implications for future practice, policy and research are presented.

Prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity among Mississippi public school students, 2005-2011.

This study estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mississippi public school students in grades K - 12 and assessed changes in the prevalence between 2005 and 2011. In 2011, Body Mass Index was calculated using measured height and weight data for a weighted representative sample of 4,235 public school students. Additional analyses compared 2011 prevalence estimates by gender, race, and grade levels and for changes between 2005 and 2011. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among public school students no longer appears to be increasing although a significant downward trend was not observed (p = 0.0845), and rates remain higher than national averages. In 2011, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity for all students in grades K - 12 was 40.9% as compared to 42.4% in 2009, 42.1% in 2007 and 43.9% in 2005. Significant decreases in overweight and obesity were found among white students and elementary school student groups from 2005 to 2011. White students' combined rates fell from 40.6% in 2005 to 34.8% in 2011 (p = 0.0006). Similarly, combined rates in elementary school students dropped from 43.0% in 2005 to 37.3% in 2011 (p = 0.0045). In 2011, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was significantly lower among white students than black students (p < 0.001) and significantly lower among white female students than black female students at all three grade levels. These findings are discussed in light of recent statewide educational initiatives and health disparities. Implications for future practice, policy, and research are presented.

Racial Disparities in Reproductive Healthcare among Parous and Nulliparous Women in Mississippi.

BACKGROUND: Long-standing racial disparities exist in reproductive healthcare and have been associated with negative health outcomes among minority women. This study aimed to analyze the racial disparities in reproductive healthcare among Mississippi women, particularly as it related to contraception access, usage, setting, provider type, and payer. METHODS: A two-stage stratified probability design was employed - 95 of the 1500 licensed childcare facilities across the state were randomly selected, and then two to three classrooms were randomly selected within each facility. The children were the means to obtaining a weighted sample of parous women of childbearing age (15-44). Once a parous woman completed the study, she could invite a nulliparous friend of similar age, race, and socioeconomic background to also participate in the study. RESULTS: Racial disparities were found in the reproductive healthcare of both the parous and nulliparous groups. Overall, black women were less likely to receive services from an obstetrics and gynecology. Parous and nulliparous black women were more likely to receive their reproductive healthcare at the health department and less likely to use the most effective methods of contraception. CONCLUSION: Low use of the most effective methods of contraception, despite high levels of general contraceptive use and high insurance coverage, hints at additional barriers to full access for black women in Mississippi. More equitable access to effective family planning counseling and contraception can have meaningful impact on the lives of black women in our state.

Prevalence and trends in obesity among Mississippi public school students, 2005-2009.

The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mississippi children and youth in grades K-12, and to assess any changes in the prevalence during 2005, 2007, and 2009. Body Mass Index was calculated using measured height and weight data for 3,703 public school students, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated. Additional analysis compared prevalence estimates by gender, race, and grade for the 2009 data, and comparisons were made between the 2005, 2007, and 2009 data. In 2009, the prevalence of obesity for all students in grades K-12 was 23.9%, as compared to 23.5% in 2007 and 25.5% in 2005. However, no statistically significant differences were found over the three time periods. The disparity between races appears to be increasing over time with the prevalence remaining level for Nonwhite students while dropping each year for White students.

Prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and youth in Mississippi: current trends in weight status.

The purpose of this research was to estimate the 2007 prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and youth and to compare these data with previous prevalence data to determine current trends in weight status in Mississippi. Measured height and weight data were collected on a weighted sample of 3,837 public school students in grades K-12. Prevalence estimates of obesity and overweight, as indicated by Body Mass Index, were calculated. Analyses were made by gender, race, and grade level for 2007 data, and these data were compared to the 2005 findings. In 2007, 23.5% of the students were obese. The prevalence was highest among elementary school students, males and nonwhite students. The prevalence of obesity in 2007 was lower than in 2005, and the decline occurred primarily among middle and high school students. While the 2007 prevalence was still high, the decline suggests that recent obesity initiatives may be having a positive impact.

Prevalence of overweight among elementary and middle school students in Mississippi compared with prevalence data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the Child and Youth Prevalence of Overweight Survey was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and at risk for becoming overweight among children in Mississippi (grades 1-8) using height and weight measures instead of self-report and to compare the findings for grades 6 through 8 with data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System for middle school students (grades 6-8). METHODS: Students in randomly selected classes from 37 sampled elementary and middle schools throughout Mississippi participated in the study. School staff were trained to collect height and weight data using a standardized procedure. RESULTS: Overall, 24.0% of students in grades 1 through 8 were found to be overweight, and another 14.7% were at risk for becoming overweight. With the exception of sixth grade, there was a trend of increasing prevalence of overweight by grade (17.5% in grade 1 compared with 31.3% in grade 8). In the Child and Youth Prevalence of Overweight Survey, 25.2% of students in grades 6 through 8 were found to be overweight, compared with 18.5% in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of students in Mississippi are already overweight in first grade, and the prevalence tends to increase by grade. Data collected from middle school students through measured heights and weights in the Child and Youth Prevalence of Overweight Survey were higher than self-reported data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Our data suggest that self-reported data underestimate the prevalence of overweight among middle school students. Efforts to monitor students' body mass index and assess effectiveness of interventions should include all grades and use measured heights and weights rather than self-reports.

Obesity and Overweight Prevalence among a Mississippi Low-Income Preschool Population: A Five-Year Comparison.

Purpose. This study determined 2010 rates of overweight/obesity in a representative sample of low-income preschoolers in Mississippi, USA and compared rates between 2005 (N = 1250) and 2010 (N = 1765). Significance. Obesity is a significant global health issue because of its well-established negative health consequences. Child obesity is a concern due to risk of early-onset obesity-related illnesses and the longevity of lifetime exposure to those illnesses. Methods. Identical measures were used in 2005 and 2010 with complex-stratified sampling designs. Results. Chi-square tests revealed that overall obesity/overweight rates between 2005 (20.6%/17.9%) and 2010 (20.8%/17.0%) had not changed significantly for the samples as a whole, nor by gender or race. Age group comparisons indicated a significant decline in obesity rates of 3 year olds (20.3% in 2005, reduced to 13.1% in 2010, P = 0.035). These findings mimic the trend toward stabilization of obesity rates noted in national low-income preschool populations.