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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 3/2008

01-12-2008 | Original Article

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

Authors: Janne Boone-Heinonen, M.P.H., Penny Gordon-Larsen, Ph.D., Linda S. Adair, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2008

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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.
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Metadata
Title
Obesogenic Clusters: Multidimensional Adolescent Obesity-related Behaviors in the U.S.
Authors
Janne Boone-Heinonen, M.P.H.
Penny Gordon-Larsen, Ph.D.
Linda S. Adair, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2008
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9074-3

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