Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Peter B. Anderson

Abstract

Obesity continues to be a leading public health issue in the United States. Many chronic diseases are associated with obesity, including hypertension, diabetes, and several forms of cancer. There are multiple known contributing factors to obesity; however, historically, there has been little research focusing on time of day eating as a possible risk factor for obesity, especially childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a significant risk factor for adult obesity. Obese children and adolescents are five times more likely to be obese in adulthood. The theoretical foundation for this study was the social ecological model. In this secondary correlational analysis using the 2004-2005 School Nutrition Dietary Assessment data set, the association between mealtime and body mass index was examined using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression analysis. The population for this study included all respondents who participated in the 2004-2005 SNDA-III (N = 2,314). The focus of this study was school mealtimes and childhood obesity, potentially identifying another contributing factor to the obesity epidemic in the United States. The results of this study indicated that there was not enough evidence to suggest an association between school mealtimes and childhood obesity; however, there was the potential for further research on school mealtimes and the school environment. These findings build upon the body of knowledge and may be used by school policy makers, school administration, and parents to promote more appropriate lunch mealtimes and other measures, which can lead to positive social change.

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