Role Models Could Cut Teen Obesity

California teens are less likely to be overweight if they have protective social factors such as positive role models or participate in clubs and other after-school activities.

That's the conclusion of UCLA researchers, based on data gathered as part of its semi-annual health interview survey.

However, the study has also concluded that many children in California do not have a positive role model, or engage in after-school activities, or both. 

The data suggest a pathway for kids in the Golden State to avoid obesity and the attendant health problems that come with the condition, but also starkly illustrates how difficult that pathway is for many kids to attain. 

The problem of obesity also persists into adulthood. Another UCLA study released earlier this year concluded that nearly a quarter of the state's residents were considered obese, up sharply from 19.8% a decade ago.

According to the study,  67.6% of those teens who have a positive role model are at what is considered a healthy weight for their age and height. That compares to 59.7% at a healthy weight among those who do not have a role model. Among those who participate in clubs outside of school, 71.4% are at a healthy weight, compared to just 61.6% who do not participate in club activity. Receiving high levels of support from teachers and staff at school or having volunteered in the past year also have a strong correlator to a healthy body weight. There are also similar correlations to the likelihood teens engage in 60 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week.

However, 37.5% of those adolescents surveyed say they do not have a role model of any sort. Another 25.8% say they have a distant role model, such as a famous athlete or entertainer. Another 22% said they had a family member as a role model, and 4.2% said they had a friend.

Having a role model also tends to hew close to household income levels: Among those living below the federal poverty level, 49.1% say they have a role model. At 300% or higher of the poverty level, it shoots up to 71.3%. 

“Children living in poverty are severely lacking the social supports they need to thrive, which often results in the cycle of intergenerational poverty and poor health outcomes,” said Robert Ross, M.D., chief executive officer of The California Endowment. Latinos are also far less likely to have role models, volunteered in the past year, or participate in clubs outside of school compared to whites and other minorities. There are also some gaps between other minority groups in these categories.

“It’s a sad fact that not all teens have a parent or adult to guide them in a positive way,” said Susan Babey, a senior research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and a co-author of the report. “If the teen also lacks adult support at school and support from a positive peer group, they sometimes emulate unhealthy characters they see in movies or on TV — which are not the best places to find role models.”

The study suggesting strengthening adult support at the state's high schools, and suggested that clubs and other social programs help subsidize membership to help recruit more lower-income students.