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Cited by 1,388Smoking Behavior and CessationAdolescent Health and BehaviorsObesity, Physical Activity, Diet

Longitudinal tracking of adolescent smoking, physical activity, and food choice behaviors

Kelder, S H, Perry, C L, Klepp, K I, Lytle, L L·1994·American Journal of Public Health
DOI 10.2105/ajph.84.7.1121
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: A major assumption underlying youth health promotion has been that physiological risk factors track from childhood into adulthood. However, few studies have systematically examined how behaviors change during adolescence. This paper describes longitudinal tracking of adolescent health behaviors in two Minnesota Heart Health Program communities. METHODS: Beginning in sixth grade (1983), seven annual waves of behavioral measurements were taken from both communities (baseline n = 2376). Self-reported data included smoking behavior, physical activity, and food preferences. RESULTS: A progressive increase in the change to weekly smoking status was observed across the smoking status categories. As students began to experiment with smoking, they were more likely to either begin to be or remain regular smokers. Tracking of physical activity and food choice variables was also apparent. In nearly all the follow-up periods, the students identified at baseline as measuring high remained high, and those measuring low remained low. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that there is evidence of early consolidation and tracking of physical activity, food preference, and smoking behavior. The early consolidation of health behaviors implies that interventions should begin prior to sixth grade, before behavioral patterns are resistant to change. The smoking results suggest that students are experiencing difficulty quitting smoking; thus, youth smoking cessation interventions are warranted.

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Crossref · 10.2105/ajph.84.7.1121

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  • Activity behaviors in childhood tend to persist into adult life.

    “physical activity patterns track from childhood into adulthood (CDC 2008;Dennison 1988;Kelder 1994;Klepp 1993;Malina 1996;Malina 2001;Raitakari 1994;Sallis 1992;Summerbell 2005)”

    From School-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 (2013) · cites this paper as Kelder 1994

  • In young children, the bitter and undesirable taste of vegetables is often a major barrier to vegetable consumption, and food neophobia can interfere with young children's acceptance of vegetables.

    “In young children, the bitter and undesirable taste of vegetables is often provided as a major barrier to vegetable consumption [ 73 – 75 ], and food neophobia (the reluctance to eat, or the avoidance of, novel foods [ 76 ]) particularly, can interfere with young children’s acceptance of vegetables [ 76 – 78 ].”

    From Increasing vegetable intakes: rationale and systematic review of published interventions (2016) · cites this paper as [78]

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Authors
Kelder, S. H., Perry, C. L., Klepp, K. I., & Lytle, L. L.
Affiliations
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Public Health
Publisher
American Public Health Association
Published
1994-07
Volume
84
Issue
7
Pages
1121-1126
ISSN
  • 0090-0036 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-0048
DOI
10.2105/ajph.84.7.1121
OpenAlex
W2112860647
Cited by
1,388
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 62 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 78 · 2013: 83 · 2012: 76
FWCI
11.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01hl025523-13)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01-HL 25523)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Health and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Keywords
adolescent smoking, physical activity, food choice, smoking initiation, smoking cessation, youth health promotion
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Child, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Smoking, Health Behavior, Exercise

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