Obesogenic Clusters: Multidimensional Adolescent Obesity-Related Behaviors in the U.S.

Citation

Boone-Heinonen, Janne; Gordon-Larsen, Penny; & Adair, Linda S. (2008). Obesogenic Clusters: Multidimensional Adolescent Obesity-Related Behaviors in the U.S.. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 36(3), 217-230. PMCID: PMC2769258

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diet, physical activity, and psychosocial factors are independent and potentially interactive obesity determinants, but few studies have explored complex behavior patterns.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine obesity-related behavior patterning and identify high-risk adolescent groups.
METHODS: Cluster analysis identified groups with shared behavior patterns in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1995 and 1996, ages 11-21; N = 9,251). Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses compared sociodemographics and prevalent and incident obesity across clusters.
RESULTS: Seven and six clusters in males and females, respectively, represented behavior patterns such as School Clubs & Sports, Sedentary Behaviors, Dieters, and Junk Food & Low Activity. Sociodemographics varied across clusters. Compared to School Clubs & Sports clusters, adjusted odds of prevalent and incident obesity were higher for most clusters in females but not males.
CONCLUSIONS: Cluster analysis identified several obesogenic behavior patterns, highlighting areas for future research and potential avenues for interventions that target broad lifestyle factors.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9074-3

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2008

Journal Title

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Author(s)

Boone-Heinonen, Janne
Gordon-Larsen, Penny
Adair, Linda S.

PMCID

PMC2769258

ORCiD

Gordon-Larsen - 0000-0001-5322-4188
Adair - 0000-0002-3670-8073
Boone - 0000-0002-0368-0545