25th Annual Student Research Conference
Childhood obesity: A Comparison Of Rural And Urban Upbringing In Relation To Obesity In School Aged Children
Emily N. Detert* and Christy M. Belzer
Dr. Janice Clark, Faculty Mentor
For the first time in history, children today are not expected to outlive their parents due to the epidemic of childhood obesity. According to the CDC, childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. This study is a sociological perspective on obesity in our current society; with its purpose to investigate the differences between rural and urban upbringing. Children and adolescents in grades K-12 from both a small town in Iowa, and a Saint Louis metropolitan area school will be assessed according to their BMIs to consider the impact of rural versus urban atmosphere in relation to physical health. What effects do rural upbringing, urban sprawl, and socioeconomic factors have on childhood obesity? Are these independent events, or preconditioned? The results of this study may help parents, educators, and the like to understand how the environment affects childhood obesity and in turn improve the effectiveness of community interventions.
Keywords: childhood, obesiity, childhood obesity , rural, urban
Topic(s):Health Science
Sociology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 600-13
Location: Georgian Room - SUB
Time: 3:30