Obesogenic behaviors among adolescents: the role of generation and time in the United States.

OBJECTIVES

To examine how obesogenic behaviors (consumption of sugary drinks, physical activity, and/or sedentary behaviors) differ among adolescents within and across generation.

DESIGN

Data come from the 2008 Boston Youth Survey, a population-based sample of 9th-12th-graders in 22 public high schools in Boston, MA. We used self-reported information to calculate generation and obesogenic behaviors (i.e. physical activity in past 7 days, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in past 7 days, and TV/computer/video game use on an average school day). Multivariable models were conducted to estimate the association between generation and obesogenic behaviors, adjusting for race/ethnicity, sex, age, family structure, and school.

RESULTS

Relative to first generation youth, 1.5 generation (RR=1.74, 95% CI=1.10, 2.77) and second generation (RR=1.45, 95% CI=1.02, 2.07) youth were more likely to consume soda. Second (RR=1.60, 95% CI=1.20, 2.14) and third generation (RR=2.29, 95% CI=1.43, 3.65) youth were significantly more likely to consume other sugary drinks. Only third generation youth were more likely to watch ≥2 hours/day of TV when compared to first generation youth (RR=1.53, 95% CI=1.07, 2.18). No differences were seen by generation for levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or computer/video games.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater consumption of sugary drinks is seen across generation among adolescents. Sugary drinks, which are aggressively marketed to immigrant youth, may contribute to excess weight gain seen among foreign-born youth upon arrival in the United States.