BMC Research Notes
Volume 11, Issue 1, 2018

Unhealthy weight among children in Spain and the role of the home environment (Article) (Open Access)

Vaquera E. , Jones R.* , Marí-Klose P. , Marí-Klose M. , Cunningham S.A.
  • a Department of Sociology and Trachtenberg, School of Public Policy and Public Administration, Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, George Washington University, 2114 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, United States
  • b Nutrition and Health Sciences, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
  • c Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Del Trabajo, Universidad de Zaragoza, Saragossa, Spain
  • d Dept. Sociologia i Anàlisi de les Organitzacions, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • e Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, United States

Abstract

Objective: Unhealthy weight is a major global health concern. This study examines unhealthy weight among children in Spain and the role of the home environment therein. Data are from a 2010 national survey of families with children. We examined unhealthy weight among children ages 5-10 years using the WHO Child Growth Standards and used multivariate logistic regression to assess associations with family characteristics. Results: There was a high prevalence of unhealthy weight, with only 46% of children at normal weight. Both underweight and obesity were higher among boys (14%; 22%) than girls (13%; 12%). Underweight and obesity were higher among children of mothers with obesity and those with unemployed parents. Obesity was higher among children of mothers who were less educated (35%) and among children of immigrants (19%). We find high levels of unhealthy weight in children, with both underweight and obesity being predicted by the same family environment characteristics. © 2018 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Underweight Obesity Spain overweight Family

Index Keywords

Thinness human Overweight obesity Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans male Spain preschool child female Child, Preschool prevalence underweight body weight body mass Pediatric Obesity Body Mass Index childhood obesity Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85051630193&doi=10.1186%2fs13104-018-3665-2&partnerID=40&md5=a4e8ccdfbad6236ed97947281ef17593
DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3665-2
ISSN: 17560500
Original Language: English