Familial and Socio-environmental Predictors of Overweight and Obesity among Primary Scholl Children in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
- Author:
Serene Tung EH
;
Shamarina S
;
Mohd Nasir MT
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Child feeding practices, childhood obesity, neighbourhood safety, pressure to eat, restrictions
- From:
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
2011;17(2):151-162
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the familial
and socio-environmental predictors of overweight and obesity among 1430, 9-
12 year-old primary school children and their parents in Selangor and Kuala
Lumpur. Methodology: Body weight and height were measured and body mass
index was calculated. Modified Child Feeding (CFQ) and Determinants of
Adolescent Social Well-being and Health (DASH) questionnaires were used to
measure familial and socio-environmental factors. Results: A total of 17.9% of
the children were overweight while 16.0% were obese. Positive relationships
were found between child’s BMI and parent’s BMI (r = 0.129, p < 0.01), concern
about child’s weight (r = 0.125, p < 0.01) and restriction (r = 0.057, p < 0.05) to
unhealthy foods. However, negative relationships were found between child’s
BMI with pressure to eat (r = -0.135, p < 0.01) and neighbourhood safety perception
(r = -0.053, p < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that being male (Exp
(β) = 0.538; 95% CI = 0.421-0.687), higher parent’s BMI (Exp (β) = 1.055; 95% CI =
1.028-1.082), higher concern about child’s weight (Exp (β) = 1.082; 95% CI = 1.030-
1.127), low pressure to eat (Exp (β) = 0.857; 95% CI = 0.801-0.916) and low
perception of neighbourhood safety (Exp (β) = 0.951; 95% CI = 0.913-0.990) were
significantly associated with increased risk of overweight. Conclusion: Parents
should be the main target for education to modify children’s weight status.
Further research should be carried out to understand the mechanism of influence
of parents and the socio-environment on child’s health.
- Full text:W020150714382590491285.pdf
