Table 2.
Prevalence (%) of body weight status, weight management goals, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and dietary behaviors by sex, among US high school students.
| Measures | Female | Male | Chi-square test | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | (95% CI) | % | (95% CI) | (p value) | |
| Body weight statusa | |||||
| Obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) | 20.5 | (18.0–23.2) | 17.6 | (15.9–19.5) | (p < 0.05) |
| Overweight (85th ≤ BMI < 95th percentile) | 17.4 | (16.0–18.9) | 18.2 | (16.4–20.2) | |
| Normal weight (5th ≤ BMI < 85th percentile) | 58.9 | (56.2–61.6) | 62.4 | (59.8–64.9) | |
| Underweight (BMI < 5th percentile) | 3.2 | (2.4–4.1) | 1.8 | (1.3–2.5) | |
| Weight management goalsb | |||||
| Lose weight | 60.5 | (57.9–63.1) | 33.8 | (31.6–36.1) | (p < 0.001) |
| Gain weight | 5.7 | (4.6–7.0) | 28.8 | (26.7–31.0) | |
| Stay the same weight | 19.0 | (17.7–20.4) | 19.7 | (18.2–21.3) | |
| Not trying to do anything about weight | 14.8 | (13.2–16.5) | 17.7 | (15.9–19.6) | |
| Physical activity | |||||
| Daily physical activityc | 8.4 | (7.3–9.5) | 21.7 | (19.3–24.4) | (p < 0.001) |
| Muscle strengtheningd | 36.6 | (34.1–39.1) | 64.4 | (60.8–67.9) | (p < 0.001) |
| Sedentary behaviors | |||||
| Television viewinge | 30.2 | (26.9–33.8) | 26.4 | (24.0–29.0) | (p < 0.05) |
| Computer/video game usef | 19.2 | (17.4–21.3) | 27.6 | (25.4–30.0) | (p < 0.001) |
| Dietary behaviors | |||||
| Fruitsg | 39.1 | (36.3–42.0) | 42.8 | (41.2–44.4) | (p < 0.05) |
| Vegetablesh | 18.3 | (16.3–20.5) | 18.6 | (17.3–20.1) | NS |
| Fast foodi | 72.6 | (68.2–76.6) | 77.1 | (74.3–79.7) | (p < 0.01) |
| Sugar-sweetened beveragesj | 18.1 | (15.5–21.1) | 26.4 | (23.1–30.0) | (p < 0.001) |
CI = confidence interval. NS = not significant, p ≥ 0.05.
BMI = body mass index = weight (kg)/height (m)2.
aBased on BMI calculated from measured height and weight and using age- and sex-specific percentiles from growth charts developed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
bWhich of the following are you trying to do about your weight?
cPhysically active for ≥60 minutes, 7 days/week.
dParticipated in muscle strengthening exercises on ≥3 days/week.
eWatched television for >2 hours on an average school day.
fPlayed video or computer games or used a computer for something other than school work >2 hours on an average school day.
gAte fruits ≥2 times/day.
hAte vegetables ≥3 times/day.
iAte at least one meal or snack from a fast food restaurant ≥1 days/week.
jDrank sugar-sweetened beverages ≥3 times/day.