Date of Conferral

7-28-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Simone Salandy

Abstract

Adolescent obesity persists as a critical public health challenge in the United States, with Black and Hispanic adolescent females experiencing elevated rates. Adolescent obesity contributes to serious long-term health risks, but provider counseling may support body mass index (BMI) management. Guided by the social-ecological model, this study examined whether receiving medical recommendations to control or lose weight was associated with BMI among Black and Hispanic adolescent females aged 16–19 years and whether meal preparation habits and food security status moderated this association, controlling for age, household income, and race/ethnicity. This quantitative, cross-sectional secondary analysis used multiple linear regression analyses to examine National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 prepandemic data from N = 124 Black and Hispanic females aged 16–19 years with complete data for the regression variables. The study found that participants who did not receive a recommendation to control or lose weight had significantly lower BMI than those who did (B = −12.15, 95% CI [−14.75, −9.55], p < .001). Neither meal preparation habits (p = .964) nor food security status (p = .700) significantly moderated this association. The findings are consistent with clinical practice patterns in which adolescents with higher BMI receive weight-related medical recommendations to lose or control weight. This study contributes to public health professionals' understanding of medical recommendations and the potential intersections with socioeconomic, household, and structural factors. This knowledge can be used to create holistic programs, advance health equity, and improve long-term health outcomes.

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