Growth and Development Longitudinal Follow-Up: Phase 2

Project Number: R40 MC 00241-04
Project Date: 08/01/2001
Grantee: University of Maryland, Baltimore
Department/Center: Department of Pediatrics, Western Health Center

Final Report

Pending

Principal Investigator

Maureen M. Black Ph.D,
Professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore Department of Pediatrics, Western Health Center,
655 West Lombard Street, Room 311
Baltimore, MD 21201
mblack@peds.umaryland.edu

Abstract

This application is a Competing Continuation of a previously funded MCH grant (MCJ-240621) that examined the longitudinal growth and development of children with and without a history of failure-to-thrive (FTT). We have tracked the height and weight of 249 children since they were under two years of age. At age 8, rates of overweight, based on body mass index (BMI)>85% have increased to 30% for children without a history of FTT and 19% for children with a history of FTT. Our goals are to prevent increasing rates of obesity by developing, implementing, and evaluating a health promotion program that targets diet and lifestyle activity appropriate for African American 13-15 year old youth from low-income, urban families. The proposed project incorporates three theoretical foundations: developmental-ecological theory, social learning theory, and the transtheoretical theory of stage of change, and has two phases. In the Formative Phase we will: (1) examine the ethnotheories of body size, diet, and activity and opportunities to engage in healthy diet and physical activity at home, in school, and in communities, (2) produce a 15-minute health promotion videotape incorporating messages from the ethnotheories, and (3) develop a 12-session (6 month) home-based intervention. In the Intervention Phase we will use a randomized controlled trial to implement and evaluate the health promotion intervention. At the household level, we will evaluate food purchases and support for healthy diet and physical activity and at the individual level, we will evaluate changes in adolescents' body fat (BMI and bioelectrical impedance assessment), diet (% fat and servings of fruits and vegetables), and physical activity (self report and activity monitor). We will examine the role of growth history (FTT vs. nonFTT) and intentions toward changes in health, diet, and activity, as moderators of the intervention. In addition, we will use longitudinal analytical strategies, including hierarchical linear modeling, to examine changes in outcome measures related to genetic factors ( parental weight and height), and environmental and psychological factors from constructs proposed by the underlying theories and ethnographic research.

Publications

Listed is descending order by year published.

Le, K. & Black, M.M. (2005). Pediatric obesity. In C.B. Fisher & R.M. Lerner (Eds.), Applied Developmental Science: An Encyclopedia of Research, Policies, and Programs. (pp. 755-757). New Bury, CA: Sage Publications.

Arteaga, S. & Black, M.M. (2005). Adolescent femailes, physical activity. In C.B. Fisher & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Applied Developmental Science: An Encyclopedia of Research, Policies, and Programs. (pp. 19-21). New Bury, CA: Sage Publications.

Keywords

Adolescent Nutrition, African American, Overweight, Preventive Health Care Education, Nutrition