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Children and Youth/Health Issues Among American Indians in North Dakota - Results of the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey*Note

A racial gap in weight and nutrition is evident in the results of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in North Dakota.

Among children in middle school (grades 7 and 8), 21 percent of American Indian children are overweight or obese compared to 12 percent of white children. That gap widens with age. Among children in high school (grades 9 through 12), the proportion of American Indian children who are overweight or obese (24 percent) is more than twice that of white children (9 percent). Among children in middle school, 21 percent of American Indian children are considered at risk of becoming overweight compared to 15 percent of white children; 38 percent of American Indian children think of themselves as overweight compared to 29 percent of white children, and 57 percent are trying to lose weight compared 45 percent of white children (“2005 YRBS High School”; “2005 YRBS Middle School”).

With respect to nutrition, 30 percent of American Indian children in middle school drink three or more glasses of milk per day compared to 43 percent of white children. By high school, only 13 percent of American Indian children drink enough milk each day compared to 29 percent of white children. In middle school, the proportions of children who drink 13 or more ounces of a sugar-containing beverage daily are nearly even for both races, at 44 percent of American Indian children and 43 percent of white children. By high school, however, the proportion of American Indian children drinking sugared beverages daily spikes to 59 percent while the proportion of white children remains stable at 45 percent (“2005 YRBS High School”; “2005 YRBS Middle School”).

Regarding physical activity, three in four American Indian middle school students are enrolled in a Physical Education (PE) class at least once a week (74 percent). This proportion decreases to one in two by high school (51 percent). Overall participation of American Indian students in PE class is lower than the North Dakota average for both middle school and high school. In addition, participation in sports is lower for American Indian middle school students; 63 percent participate compared to 75 percent of white students (“2005 YRBS High School”; “2005 YRBS Middle School”).

In middle school, 71 percent of American Indian middle school students did sufficient vigorous physical activity and 17 percent did moderate physical activity in an average week. By high school, only 66 percent of American Indian students did sufficient vigorous or moderate physical activity in an average week. Sedentary activities are common. In middle school, 34 percent of American Indian students and 31 percent of white students watch an average of three or more hours per day of TV. By high school, the proportion of American Indian students still watching three or more hours per day of TV is stable at 33 percent, but the proportion of white students drops to 23 percent (“2005 YRBS High School”; “2005 YRBS Middle School”).

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Department of Health and Human Services - CDC)

• North Dakota Fact Sheet

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

• North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior 2005 Survey Results

Note:

Race data are reported as "Black", "Hispanic/Latino", "White", "All other races", and "Multiple races." We are able to equate “All other races” with “American Indian” in North Dakota because we know they are our state’s largest minority.

These statistics were prepared as part of an application for a grant that would provide funds for nutrition and physical activity policy intervention in two American Indian middle schools in North Dakota.

Source:

2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results: North Dakota High School Survey: Summary Table – Weighted Data. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2006, from North Dakota Department of Instruction Web site: http://dpi.state.nd.us/health/YRBS/2005/hs/index.shtm.

2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results: North Dakota Middle School Survey: Summary Table – Weighted Data. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2006, from North Dakota Department of Instruction Web site: http://dpi.state.nd.us/health/YRBS/2005/middle/index.shtm.