Obesity and Socioeconomic Status in Children and Adolescents: United States, 2005–2008

"In 2007–2008 almost 17% of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years were obese (1). Childhood obesity often tracks to adulthood (2) and, in the short run, childhood obesity can lead to psychosocial problems and cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and abnormal glucose tolerance or diabetes (3). Studies have suggested that obesity is greater in the low income population than in higher income individuals (4). This data brief presents the most recent national data on childhood obesity and its association with poverty income ratio (PIR) and education of household head. Results are presented by sex and race and ethnicity.."

National, State, and Local Area Vaccination Coverage among Adolescents Aged 13--17 Years --- United States, 2009
"The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that adolescents routinely receive the following vaccines: meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY, 1 dose); tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap, 1 dose); and (for females) human papillomavirus (HPV, 3 doses) (1). Adolescents also should receive the following recommended vaccinations they missed during childhood: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR, 2 doses); hepatitis B (HepB, 3 doses); and varicella (VAR, 2 doses) (1). Since 2006, CDC has conducted the National Immunization Survey--Teen (NIS-Teen) to estimate vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13--17 years. This report summarizes results from 2009 NIS-Teen and updates data from 2008 NIS-Teen (2). Comparing 2009 with 2008, vaccination coverage among adolescents for the three routinely administered adolescent vaccines increased for Tdap (from 40.8% to 55.6%), MenACWY (from 41.8% to 53.6%), ≥1 dose of HPV (from 37.2% to 44.3%), and ≥3 doses of HPV (from 17.9% to 26.7%). Vaccination coverage varied widely among states; four states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island) had coverage of >60% for all three of the routinely administered adolescent vaccines (Tdap, MenACWY, and HPV). Nationally, Healthy People 2010 vaccination objectives of 90% coverage among adolescents aged 13--15 years were met for ≥3 doses of HepB and ≥1 dose of VAR. Coverage with routine adolescent vaccines is increasing; however, more effort, including identification and dissemination of successful state-based practices, is needed to continue to increase the number of adolescents vaccinated according to ACIP recommendations..."

The Code of the Street and African-American Adolescent Violence
"The “code of the street” theory, developed by Yale professor Elijah Anderson, presents an explanation for high rates of violence among African-American adolescents. Observing life in a Philadelphia African-American neighborhood, Anderson saw that economic disadvantage, separation from mainstream society, and racial discrimination encountered by some African-American adolescents may lead to anti-social attitudes and to violent behavior."

Adolescent Health in the United States, 2007
"Adolescent Health in the United States, 2007 describes the health of the population 10–19 years of age. Because the transition to adulthood often continues through ages 20–24 years (young adults), data for young adults are presented in topic areas when comparable data were available and in charts where space allowed. For many figures, additional information on gender, race and Hispanic origin, and age is available in the accompanying data table to supplement the characteristics highlighted in the figure..."

Print reference copy available at MPL- Central at:
*362.10835 M192a.