Diabetes risk, low fitness, and energy insufficiency levels among children from poor families.

Background: Low-income populations have higher rates of type 2 diabetes and it is the hope of the investigators to increase support for the dissemination of evidence-based prevention programs aimed at children from poor families.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of high blood glucose, obesity, low fitness, and energy insufficiency levels among children from poor families.

Design: The cross-sectional study conducted in fall 2001 used fasting capillary glucose, body mass index, body fat, step test, and three 24-hour dietary recalls to assess diabetes risk factor levels.

Subjects: Participants were 1,402 fourth-grade students aged 8 to 10 years. The racial/ethnic backgrounds were 80% Mexican American, 10% African American, 5% Asian American, and 5% non-Hispanic white.

Statistical Analysis Performed: All data were analyzed for descriptive statistics and frequencies of distribution. Means were computed by sex for all diabetes risk factors and t test conducted to determine differences between sexes.

Results: Nearly 75% of participants lived in households with
Conclusions: Children living in poverty have high levels of diabetes risk factors and need early detection and intervention programs. Prudent advice might be to increase physical activity and intake of nutrient-dense foods rather than to restrict energy intake.