Predicting Childhood Obesity in Mississippi: Racial Disparities Across Age and Income

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Abstract

This research provides insight about racial disparities in obesity for children across age and levels of income. Young Black children and children from low-income households are at a particularly high risk for childhood obesity. Data was collected via telephone survey between 2009 and 2012 as part of an evaluation of the Mississippi Healthy Students Act of 2007. Mississippi parents (n = 11,828) of public school age children were interviewed to ascertain their child’s weight, height, gender, family background, and other key demographics. We categorized children as being either obese or nonobese (BMI <95th percentile vs. ≥95 percentile. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association of selected predictors and interactions on the outcome of childhood obesity. We found a significant racial disparity in childhood obesity, with Black children having higher odds than White children (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.45–1.76). However, there was more than just a simple gap between the two groups. A race by child age interaction (OR, .97; 95% CI, .94–.99) demonstrated that this disparity was heavily concentrated in younger ages, whereas for older ages, the difference in obesity between Black and White children was negligible. In terms of socioeconomic status, Black children tended to live in households with lower incomes. Even so, a nonsignificant race by income interaction (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, .92–1.07) found that the odds of obesity for Black and White children decrease consistently across income. Our findings indicated that obesity was more prevalent in early childhood. Racial disparities also appeared to be most pronounced during this period of life. This intersection of race and early childhood obesity should be a point of emphasis for future research and policy considerations.

Authors

• Benjamin Walker

• John S. McCown, Mississippi State University

• Ismail Hakki Yigit, Mississippi State University