Steps Youth Survey
2005 Chautauqua County Survey Results
Introduction
In the spring of 2005, a total of 5,178 students in grades
9-12 attending schools in Broome, Chautauqua, Jefferson, and Rockland counties participated in the Steps
Youth Survey. Information collected in
this survey will allow Steps to a HealthierNY counties to monitor the
self-reported behaviors of youth, and plan interventions for adolescents. All communities nationwide that received
Steps funding conducted a survey similar to New York’s
Steps Youth Survey.
What is the Steps Youth Survey?
The Steps Youth Survey concentrates on the six Steps focus
areas: asthma, diabetes, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco
use. It was developed in collaboration
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New York State
Department of Health and the Chautauqua County Steps Program. The survey will be conducted every two
years. Protecting student privacy was a
priority in the design and administration of the questionnaire. Participation was voluntary.
Why Were These Behaviors Selected?
Diabetes, asthma, and obesity were selected as Steps focus
areas because of their rapidly increasing prevalence in the United States
and the ability for individuals to control and even prevent these conditions
through exercise, diet and reduced tobacco use.
An estimated 5 million children suffer from asthma; and obesity among
adolescents has tripled over the past two decades. The number of people with diabetes in the United States
has nearly doubled in the past decade to 17 million.
How Can Youth Survey Results Be Used?
Students participating in the Steps Youth Survey responded
to questions measuring actual health-risk behaviors, and not simply knowledge,
attitudes, or beliefs. For example,
while it is commonly known among youth that cigarette smoking is harmful, 16.1%
of students reported smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days. Similar differences are reflected throughout
the results of the Steps Youth Survey and demonstrate the need to measure
actual health-risk behaviors. What
students understand, know, and believe is not necessarily reflected in what
they do.
Information learned from the Steps Youth Survey can help
Steps communities develop and implement programs to support youth to meet the
challenges that affect their lives and their futures. Tomorrow’s healthy outcomes are the result of
today’s healthy choices. Questions on
the Steps Youth Survey were extensively field-tested. Research indicates that students answer the
questions truthfully and that data of this nature can be gathered as reliably
from adolescents as from adults.
All of the data from which the information in this report is derived can be
found at:
Did You Know…
1057 Chautauqua County
students participated in the 2005 Steps Youth Survey?
And that in Chautauqua County:
·
81.1% of students surveyed did not eat five or
more servings of fruits and vegetables per day?
·
96.9% of students surveyed did not attend PE
class daily?
·
65.2% of students surveyed participated in
sports activities?
·
25.7% of students surveyed watched 3 or more
hours of television on an average school day?
·
12.1% of students surveyed are overweight?
·
16.1% of students surveyed smoked cigarettes
during the past 30 days?
·
8% of students surveyed had an asthma attack in
the past 12 months?
·
2.7% of students surveyed were told by a doctor
or nurse they had diabetes?
Asthma
Asthma is one of the leading causes of school
absenteeism. In 2003, 5 million
school-aged children in the United
States were reported to currently have
asthma. The estimated cost of treating
asthma in children under 18 is $3.2 billion per year.
23.5% of students surveyed reported that they were told by a
doctor or nurse that they have asthma.
The prevalence of asthma in the sample is relatively evenly
distributed among both sexes and all age groups.
28.5% of respondents with current asthma had an asthma attack
in the past 12 months.
A substantially higher percentage of females in the sample
report asthma attacks in the last 12 months, and the percentage of attacks
reported is highest for 16 year old age group.
Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes accounts for the majority of diabetes seen
in children and adolescents. However,
the rise in childhood obesity has led to an increase in Type 2 diabetes in
children and adolescents. Type 2 diabetes
can lead to several complications including blindness, kidney disease, and
cardiovascular disease.
2.7% of students surveyed reported that they were told by a
doctor or nurse that they have diabetes.
A slightly higher percentage of males in the sample
population have been advised they have diabetes.
Obesity
Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged
12-19 years has tripled. Overweight or
obese adolescents are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. Being overweight or obese during adolescence
can increase the risk of developing many diseases in adulthood, including
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.
12.1% of students surveyed are overweight
In the sample population, a higher percentage of males have
BMI scores that indicate they are overweight. By age, the highest percentage is
found in the youngest age group
An additional 15.9% of students surveyed are at risk for
becoming overweight.
Combining overweight and at risk of becoming overweight BMI
scores, 28% of the youth sample is experiencing weight problems. The combined
score of males (32%) is higher than females (24.2%).
49.2% of all respondents reported that they were trying to
lose weight.
Females in the sample, who are less likely to be overweight
or at risk
of becoming so, are over twice as likely as males to be
trying to lose weight.
Nutrition
It is important for adolescents to develop healthy eating
habits that will follow them into adulthood.
Unfortunately, many adolescents do not meet current dietary
guidelines. A healthy diet is associated
with decreased risk of many conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and
cardiovascular disease. Heavy
consumption of soda and fast food has been linked to an increased risk of
obesity.
18.7% of students surveyed reported eating 5 or more
servings of fruit and vegetables in the past week.
The percentage of students in the sample who ate five or
more servings of fruits and vegetables in the past week decreases as students
get older.
24.3 of respondents usually drink lowfat (1% or skim) milk.
Females in the sample are more likely to choose lowfat milk.
37.9% of students surveyed reported drinking soft drinks at
least once per day during the past 30 days.
Just under 50% of students in the sample drink soft drinks 1
or more times per day, and a higher percentage of males engage in this behavior
than females.
18.1% ate at a fast food restaurant three or more times in
the past week.
A slightly higher percentage of males in the sample ate fast
food three or more times in the past week, and the frequency of this behavior
is highest in the two oldest age groups.
70.6% of students surveyed reported eating lunch at school
always or most of the time.
Over two-thirds
of all students in the sample ate lunch at school all or
most of the
time, and this was the case for both males and females and
for all age
groups with the exception of the 12-14 group.
Physical Activity
Engaging in regular physical activity is an important part
of maintaining good health and is associated with reduced risk of numerous
conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Increased self-esteem is another important
benefit of participating in physical activity.
Long periods of watching television and playing video games have been
linked to an increased risk of obesity.
70.4% of students surveyed participated in physical activity
that made them sweat and breathe hard (vigorous physical activity) for 20
minutes or more on 3 or more of the past 7 days
Males in the sample
report vigorous physical activity at a somewhat level than females, although
around two-thirds of both sexes and all age groups engage in vigorous physical
activity three or more times per week.
54.4% participated in
physical activity that did not make them sweat and breathe hard (moderate
physical activity) for 30 minutes on 5 or more of the past 7 days.
Moderate physical activity is equally distributed among both
sexes and all age groups in the sample.
Among the 96.4% of students surveyed who are enrolled in
physical education (PE) class, 81.8% reported actually exercising or playing
sports for more than 20 minutes during an average PE class.
Males in the sample report exercising or playing sports for
more than 20 minutes during an average PE class at a somewhat higher rate than
females, but over 75% of both sexes and all age groups report that this is the
case.
25.7% of students surveyed reported watching 3 or more hours
of TV on an average school day.
Similar percentages of both males and females watch 3 or
more hours of TV on an average school day.
21.6% reported playing video or computer games or using a computer
for something that is not school work for 3 or more hours on an average school
day.
Substantially more males than females in the sample report playing
video or computer games or using a computer for something that is not school
work for 3 or more hours on an average school day. The highest rate of this
behavior occurs in the youngest age group.
30% of respondents were taught about opportunities for
physical activity in their community during the past school year.
A somewhat higher percentage of males report being taught about
opportunities for physical activity in their community.
Tobacco Use
Many current smokers began smoking during adolescence. Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable
cause of death in the United
States, and increases the risk of several
diseases including some cancers, cardiovascular disease, and asthma. If current patterns of smoking continue, an
estimated 6.4 million of today’s children can be expected to die prematurely
from a smoking-related disease.
16.1% of students surveyed smoked cigarettes on one or more
of the past 30 day. 
Similar percentages of both males and females smoked
cigarettes on one or more of the past 30 day, and the percentage of students
engaging in this behavior is almost twice as high in the 18 year old group
compared to those 16 and 17.
12.5% reported ever
having smoked cigarettes daily.
Almost equal percentages of males and females in the sample
have at some time smoked daily, and the percentage of students age 18 who have
ever smoked daily is over twice as high as any other age group.
Trying to quit smoking cigarettes sometime in the past 12
months was
attempted by 54% of respondents who are current smokers.
A substantially higher percentage of females than males who
are current smokers have tried to quit in the last 12 month, and the percentage
who have tried to quit is higher in the oldest three age groups than in the
younger two.
Doctor or nurse discussed ways to avoid tobacco use with
10.1% of respondents during their last check-up.
Conclusion
Many of the behaviors measured in the
Steps Youth Survey impact how students perform in school. Obesity in
adolescents has been related to poor school performance, while students
who eat nutritious foods and engage in regular physical activity have been
shown to perform better academically. Asthma
is a leading cause of school absenteeism. By working together, we can reduce
the complications of and prevent obesity, diabetes, and asthma, as well as improve nutrition, increase physical
activity, and reduce tobacco use. The Steps Youth Survey is an important
tool that will help us monitor progress toward these goals and direct resources
to the greatest areas of need.
Next
Steps
Steps to a HealthierNY is
committed to forming strong partnerships with schools. The Steps program works
with school districts to develop School
Health Advisory Councils (SHACs) to address all
aspects of coordinated school health. Schools are encouraged to complete the
CDC's School Health Index, a
self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve health and
safety policies and programs. In addition, Steps to a HealthierNY provides technical assistance to SHACs developing local wellness policies, addressing
physical activity and nutrition for both staff and students.
For additional information
about the Steps Youth Survey in Chautauqua
County, please contact Kristy Kathman
at (716) 483-4478.
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