The Role of Male Closeness on Black Adolescent Male Weight Status in Father-Present Versus Male-Kinship Households

Black males from the ages of 12-19 years olds are the only adolescent group in the United States to experience a significant increase in obesity rates from 1999-2010. This rise translates into an increase in the odds of obesity prevalence of 1.05 annually. This study used the National Survey of American Life-Adolescent, a nationally representative sample of African American and Caribbean Black adolescents (n=434), to examine the relationship between male closeness and BMI in father-present and male-kinship households among Black adolescents. Obesity levels were similar between father-present (19%) and kinship households (20%). However, a greater percentage of adolescent males in male-kinship homes (68%) were normal weight than in father-present homes (60%). Male-kinship homes reported higher percentages of male closeness (49%) in comparison to father-present homes (46%). Ethnic differences were not present between households. In the initial bivariate analysis, Paternal Closeness Scores were negatively cor...