Physical Characteristics Related to Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors: Comparison of Hispanics and Navajo, Acoma and Laguna Indians in New Mexico

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Abstract
The Checkerboard Cardiovascular Curriculum (CCC) project was designed to develop a culturally-oriented educational program for reducing coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in rural American Indians and Hispanics in the state of New Mexico. Because so little information is available on children from these ethnic groups, the purposes of this paper are: 1) to describe and compare some physical characteristics of Hispanics and Navajo, Laguna and Acoma Indians which are associated with CHD risk factors; and 2) to assess the short-term effectiveness of the CCC in altering these CHD risk factors. Body weight, height, blood pressure, one mile walk/run data, and triceps, subscapula, and calf skinfold thicknesses were collected for 97 boys and 79 girls from the four ethnic groups. Results of analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for age, indicated ethnic differences for all dependent variables. The average body mass index of all Indian children exceeded the median values reported in the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-II). The average sum of the triceps and subscapula skinfolds of the children from all ethnic groups failed to meet acceptable standards established by The National Children and Youth Fitness Study (NCYFS). The results of the CCC project suggest that these children are in need of health promotion and physical fitness programs that emphasize obesity and cardiovascular fitness and provide for ethnic and cultural differences.

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