- Surveys & Programs
- Data & Tools
- Fast Facts
- News & Events
- Publications & Products
- About Us
- Introduction
- Highlights
- Demographics
- School-Related Characteristics
- Employment-Related Characteristics
- Activities Outside of School and Work
- Health
- General Health
- Exercise
- Weight Control and Dieting
- Illness
- Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use
- Personal Safety
- HIV/AIDS Education and Sexual Behavior
- Death and Causes of Death
- List of Tables
- List of Figures
- Glossary
PDF & Related Info
Thomas D. Snyder
Indicator 46: Weight Control and Dieting
| Figure 46. Percentage of high school students who reported selected weight control and dieting characteristics, by sex and race/ethnicity: 2003 |
 |
| 1Students who were in the 95th or higher percentile for body mass index, by age and sex, based on reference data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I. Percentiles for each age level, from 2 to 20 years of age, are based on weight and height, and differ for each age level. The percentage of overweight high school students is calculated from the total number of students in the 95th percentile or higher for their age group across all high school age groups. 2Students who were in the 85th or higher percentile, but less than the 95th percentile for body mass index, by age and sex, based on reference data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I are considered at risk for becoming overweight. NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2003. |
In 2003, 27 percent of high school students were overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. Although a higher percentage of males (16 percent) than females (8 percent) were overweight, females were twice as likely to be attempting weight loss (59 vs. 29 percent). Black high school students were more likely to be overweight than their White classmates (16 vs. 10 percent), as well as more likely to be at risk for becoming overweight (18 percent) compared to their White peers (13 percent). There were no measurable differences in the percentage of Black and Hispanic students who were overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. However, Black students were less likely to report believing they were overweight (22 percent) compared to White (31 percent) and Hispanic students (32 percent). |
 View Table |
