Obesogenic behaviors, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms in American Indian children

Background: American Indian (AI) children suffer from high rates of obesity, obesity-related disease, obesogenic behaviors, and depressive symptoms. Objective: Study was designed to determine the associations between depressive symptoms and obesogenic behaviors in school-aged AI children in Oklahoma. Methods: Study design was cross-sectional. Depressive symptoms, beverage intake, fruit and vegetable intake, meal frequency, physical activity, and screen time were self-reported. Results: Mean participant age was 10.5 ± 1.6 years (n = 121); 64% were overweight/obese. Depressive symptoms were associated with dieting and screen time. Conclusion: AI chronic disease prevention efforts will benefit by including measures for depression and associations of obesogenic behaviors and depressive symptoms in treatment planning.