Recent Findings from Health Behavior in School-aged Children ...

Recent Findings fromHealth Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC):Obesity and BullyingRonald J. Iannotti, PhDEunice Kennedy Shriver NationalInstitute of Child Health and HumanDevelopmentHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Background‣ HBSC was initiated in 1982 by three countries, shortlyafterwards adopted as a WHO collaborative study‣ Now has 43 member countries/regions in Europe andNorth America‣ A collaborative project between national research teamsand in partnership with WHO‣ Surveys 11-, , 13-, , and 15-yearyear-olds every 4 yearsincluding a standard international questionnaire in allcountries (latest survey 2005– 2006; 2009-2010 2010 inplanning)Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Health Behavior in School-Aged Children – 2005/6:Participating CountriesHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Broad Aims of HBSC‣ To increase understanding of youngpeople's health and well-being, healthbehaviors and their social context‣ To inform and influence policy andpractice at national and international levelsHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Obesity - An Epidemic‣ At every age, U.S. boys (34%) were morelikely to be overweight or obese than youthin 39 other developed countries(International boys - 16%)‣ Compared to girls in the other countries,U.S. girls ranked second (U.S. girls - 26%vs. International girls - 11%)Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Obesity - Diet‣ A significantly larger percentage of U.S.children (20%) ate two or more servings offruit every day than children from othercountries (International average - 18%)‣ But the Healthy People 2010 goal is for75% of the U.S. population 2 years andolder to eat at least 2 servings of fruit adayHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Obesity - Diet‣ Evidence shows that consumption of softdrinks is related to adiposity and seculartrends indicate an increase in soft drinkconsumption by U.S. children‣ A significantly larger percentage of U.S.children (36%) drank soft drinks every daythan children from other countries(International average - 25%)Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Obesity - Eating Patterns‣ HBSC data show that eating breakfast isrelated to better weight control and eatingat fast food restaurants is associated withobesity‣ U.S. students are less likely to eatbreakfast every day than 80% of thecountries surveyed‣ 45% of U.S. students said they eat at fastfood restaurants at least once a weekHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Obesity - Dieting‣ U.S. boys ranked number one (19%) ondieting to lose weight compared to allother countries‣ U.S. girls rank among the top countries ondieting to lose weight (25% at age 11, 29%at age 13, and 26% at age 15)Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Physical Activity (PA)‣ U.S. boys were in the top 10% for physicalactivity among 13- and 15-yearyear-old boysinternationally‣ The percent of U.S. girls meeting nationalguidelines for moderate to vigorousphysical activity decreases with age (from26% at age 11 to 14% at age 15)Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Sedentary Behavior (SB)‣ A significantly larger percentage of U.S.children (66%) met the recommendationsfor watching less than 2 hours of TV perday than children from other countries(International average - 64%)‣ The Healthy People 2010 goal for U.S.high school students is to increase thisnumber to 75%Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Physical Activity and HealthIndices‣ Physical activity and sedentary behaviorsare relatively independent and havedifferent correlates‣ Across 5 regions of North America andEurope, PA was positively related to 5indices of positive physical, psychological,and social healthHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Sedentary Behaviors and HealthIndices‣ Across 5 regions of North America andEurope, sedentary behavior wasnegatively related to Self-Image‣ Sedentary behavior was positively relatedto Health Complaints, PhysicalAggression, and Alcohol Use across allregionsHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Fighting‣ A significantly smaller percentage of U.S.children (10%) were in a physical fight 3+ timesin the last 12 months than children from othercountries (International average - 14%)‣ 37% of U.S. students responding to the HBSCsurvey engaged in a fight at least once in thelast 12 months‣ The Healthy People 2010 goal is to reduce theproportion of students in grades 9 to 12 whoengage in a physical fight in the last 12 monthsto 32%Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

Bullying‣ Previously, U.S. students were more likely to bebullied or to have bullied others compared to theall-country average for bullying‣ In 2005/6, 11% of U.S. school children had beenbullied at least twice in the last two monthswhich is below the international average‣ Since 1997/8, bullying decreased in the U.S. butincreased or didn’t t change in prevalence in allother English-speaking speaking countries participating inHBSCHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org

U.S. Trends in Occasional Bullyingand Victimization504045403530252015101997/82001/22005/63530252015101997/82001/22005/6550Boys *Girls0Boys *Girls*Secular trend p

U.S. Trends in Chronic Bullyingand Victimization2518162014151997/812101997/8102001/22005/6862001/22005/65420Boys *Girls0Boys *Girls*Secular trend p

Thank YouQuestions about the study can be directed toRonald Iannotti at: iannottr@mail.nih.govHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.org