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Excerpt
Health knowledge and behaviors, risk factors for coronary disease, and aerobic capacity were compared between 241 and 206 rural boys and girls, age 16.8yrs ±1.3 and 16.6yrs ±1.2, respectively. The rural sample was 98% white. The following measures were compared: heart health knowledge, physical activity, diet, and cigarette smoking habits, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, % body fat, VO2max as estimated from step test recovery heart rates, and self-perception of health. Differences between genders were determined by t-tests for independent means and chi square analysis. The following significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in girls v. boys: 1) girls had higher heart health knowledge, 63%±15 v. 54%±19, 2) girls were more likely to consider themselves overweight, 38% v. 16%, be on a diet, 15% v. 3%, be a vegetarian, 6% v. 1%, and eat fewer foods high in fat, sugar and salt, 39x/wk v. 49x/wk, 3) girls were less likely to eat breakfast 45% v. 26%, snack between meals, 81% v. 89%, and eat fast foods, 73% v. 85%, 4) girls had higher total cholesterol, 167 mg/dl ±28 v. 154 ±33, and % body fat, 29% ±5 v. 15±5, and 5) boys had higher systolic blood pressure, 116mmHg ±10 v. 110±9, VO2max, 47ml.kg.min ±7 v. 35±2, and self-perception of health, 7±1 v. 6.5±1. Results of the study suggest significant differences between rural female and male teenagers in health knowledge and behaviors, risk factors, and aerobic capacity. The information is important in developing teaching materials and strategies for high school-based health promotion intervention.
