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POSTED: Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Compared with students nationally, Hawaii's youth are at greater risk for obesity and suicide, according to a 2007 state Department of Health survey released yesterday.

“;We seem to have skipped being overweight and moved straight into obesity,”; Health Director Chiyome Fukino said.

There was no significant change in the percentage of overweight Hawaii youth, but statistics between 1999 and 2007 show a significant increase in obesity, and that is of concern, Fukino said.

In contrast, Hawaii high school students are at lower risk than their mainland counterparts for risky behavior such as fighting on school property, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and engaging in sexual activity.

The 2007 survey was a random sampling of 1,231 students in 27 public middle and intermediate schools, and 1,191 students in 27 public high schools. Students were asked 73 questions developed by the Centers for Disease Control, with voluntary, anonymous participation.

It is taken every two years.

Hawaii's percentage of obese high school students grew to 15.6 percent in 2007 from 10.5 percent in 1999. Nationally the percentage of obese students was 13 percent.

Hawaii students also drank less milk and ate fewer fruits and vegetables five or more times per day in the seven days before the survey than nationally - 17.2 percent compared with 21.4 percent.

Fukino said Hawaii students “;don't drink as much soda as the rest of the nation”; (22.6 percent in Hawaii compared with 33.8 percent across the nation), due in part to policies adopted last year to put healthier drinks in school vending machines.

Only 38.5 percent of Hawaii students reported attending one or more days of physical education, putting them at greater risk compared with the U.S. average of 53.6 percent.

Hawaii high school students' sexual behavior was less risky, with 23.6 percent reporting sexual intercourse during the three months before the survey compared with 35 percent nationally. Also, 6.1 percent had sexual intercourse with four or more people during their life compared with 14.9 percent nationwide.

The survey also showed Hawaii high-schoolers in 2007 were at much greater risk of being offered, sold or given an illegal drug on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey than students nationally - 36.2 percent compared with 22.3 percent.

The good news is Hawaii students were less at risk for alcohol use, 29.1 percent compared with 44.7 percent nationwide. That is also down from 34.8 percent in Hawaii two years ago. The same is true of cigarette smoking - 12.8 percent compared with the national average of 20 percent, and a drop from 16.4 percent in 2005.

Hawaii students were also at less risk of regular marijuana and cocaine use.

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A GLIMPSE AT TEEN LIFESTYLES (2007)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Activity/proclivity				Hawaii rate	U.S. rate
BETTER THAN U.S. AVERAGE
» Carried weapon on school grounds			3.7		5.9
» Fought at least once in past year			28.6		35.5
» Smoked two days out of three				4.5		8.1
» Smokers who tried to quit in past year			58.1		49.7
» Drank alcohol before age 13				21.0		23.8
» Binge drinking in past month					14.9		26.0
» Ever used marijuana					29.9		38.1
» Ever had sex					36.2		47.8
ABOUT U.S. AVERAGE
» Daily physical activity				34.3		34.7
» Rode bike without helmet in past year			86.1		85.1
» Ever forced to have sex				7.8		7.8
WORSE THAN U.S. AVERAGE
» Five daily servings of fruits/veggies			17.2		21.4
» Offered/sold drugs at school in past year			36.2		22.3
» Obesity				15.6		13.0
» Rode with driver who drank alcohol			33.9		29.1
» Used a condom previous time				54.2		61.5
» Used birth control pills previous time			12.2		16.0
» Went to PE class at least once a week			38.5		53.6
» Considered suicide in past year			18.5		14.5