The Relationship Between Bullying and Weight Management Behaviors in High School Aged Youth

Purpose: Examined whether high-school students\u27 body mass index (BMI) classification was related to being bullied, and whether being bullied mediates the student\u27s likelihood of practicing unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data obtained by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 2011. Mediation analyses were used to assess relationships between weight status, being bullied and use of unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors. Results: The sample consisted of 15,425 high-school students in the United States drawn from a nationally representative survey. In this sample, 15.8% were overweight and 13.7% were obese. Twenty-four percent reported being bullied and 16.7% reported unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors. Through mediation analysis, BMI was examined in relation to unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors; however, overweight or obese youth were not more likely to report being bullied. Therefore, being bullied does not seem to be a mediator of this relationship. It was important to note that if the students reported being bullied, they were significantly more likely to report unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors. A stronger association was found when BMI was replaced with self-perception of weight. Age also appeared to be an important factor in this relationship. Conclusion: Although bullying did not seem to mediate the relationship between BMI and self-perception of weight with unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors, there appeared to be significant relationships between these variables

Addressing Nature-Deficit Disorder Using A Multi-program Area, Multi-State Approach

Youth are spending less time outdoors compared to previous generations. Because youth spend much of their time in school, teachers can provide the critical linkages that introduce students to nature. Unfortunately, teachers often lack access to standards-based STEAM curricula focused on natural resources, do not feel comfortable taking their students outside, and may not be knowledgeable about how to incorporate nature into the classroom. Addressing the nature deficit disorder facing today’s youth and the lack of professional development for teachers requires involvement from Extension (agriculture and natural resources specialists, health and human science educators) and natural resources professionals

The relationship between bullying and weight management behaviors in high school aged youth

Purpose: Examined whether high-school students\u27 body mass index (BMI) classification was related to being bullied, and whether being bullied mediates the student\u27s likelihood of practicing unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data obtained by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 2011. Mediation analyses were used to assess relationships between weight status, being bullied and use of unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors. Results: The sample consisted of 15,425 high-school students in the United States drawn from a nationally representative survey. In this sample, 15.8% were overweight and 13.7% were obese. Twenty-four percent reported being bullied and 16.7% reported unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors. Through mediation analysis, BMI was examined in relation to unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors; however, overweight or obese youth were not more likely to report being bullied. Therefore, being bullied does not seem to be a mediator of this relationship. It was important to note that if the students reported being bullied, they were significantly more likely to report unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors. A stronger association was found when BMI was replaced with self-perception of weight. Age also appeared to be an important factor in this relationship. Conclusion: Although bullying did not seem to mediate the relationship between BMI and self-perception of weight with unhealthy weight management and weight loss behaviors, there appeared to be significant relationships between these variables

Healthy Food Access and Low-Income Teens: A Photovoice Approach

Lack of access to healthy foods disproportionately impacts adolescents. This mixed-methods study used photovoice to explore everyday lived experiences of food access among teens from low-income families, empowering them to share their stories. Sixty-three diverse teens (12-17 years) from across one Midwest state took images and created narratives to support community presentations. Independent content analysis identified themes. Researchers used t tests to compare pre-post differences (p \u3c 0.05) for two scales related to empowerment and positive youth development. Themes suggest teens take on adult responsibilities relative to food access, generally selecting unhealthy foods. Families and after-school programs were critical to food‐related experiences, with cultural differences noted. A statistically significant increase, t(58) = -2.225, p = .032, was noted for “most community leaders in my city would listen to me.” Findings support the need to address factors contributing to difficulties accessing healthy foods in home and community settings