Date of Conferral

4-6-2026

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Manoj Sharma

Abstract

Childhood obesity and excessive fast-food intake represent a significant public health concern among African American children. Grounded in the social-ecological model, this quantitative, cross-sectional study examined whether frequency of fast-food or pizza meal consumption and reliance on low-cost food was associated with total cholesterol (mg/dL) and waist circumference among African American children and adolescents aged 6–15 years while controlling for key sociodemographic factors (age, gender, parental education status, and annual household income). Secondary data from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed (N=184). Descriptive statistics, nonparametric analyses, and a multiple linear regression model were used to analyze the data. Consumption of fast food or pizza was not significantly associated with total cholesterol. Regression analysis indicated that gender was significantly associated with total cholesterol levels (B = 9.21, 95% CI [17.50, 0.92], p = 0.030), with males having higher total cholesterol levels. Consumption of fast food or reliance on low-cost food was not significantly associated with waist circumference. However, age was significantly associated with waist circumference (B = 3.26, 95% CI [2.56, 3.97], p < 0.001), suggesting that as age increases, central adiposity also increases. The implications for positive social change include the potential for community health professionals to implement targeted nutrition intervention strategies to improve dietary-behavior outcomes and for policymakers to develop policies that regulate fast-food marketing practices, enhance health literacy, and promote healthier nutritional lifestyles within this population.

Download

Included in

Public Health Commons

Share

 
COinS