Association of Parental Factors and Wealth Status on Overweight and Obesity of Adolescents (Ages 18–19 Years) in Selected Schools in Manila City

Abstract

The Philippines saw an increase in adolescent overweight and obesity prevalence of 6.7% from 2003 to 2018 with an expectancy of 30% adolescents in 2030. Increasing cases may pose a serious health risk and cost burden to the basic health care delivery system. Despite studies evaluating different factors contributing to overweight and obesity, there is still a need for more research linking wealth status and parental factors to overweight and obesity in Filipino late adolescents. The study aimed to understand the association between parental factors and wealth status in the development of adolescent overweight and obesity. The research used cross-sectional study design with a sample size of 200 pairs of adolescents and parents through purposive sampling. Adolescents with Body Mass Index classification of obese or overweight, residing in Manila City, and aged 18 to 19 years old were included in the study. Self-administered questionnaires were answered by parents and used to assess each household’s wealth status, parents’ nutrition knowledge, parenting style, and eating behavior. Data was processed using binomial logistic regression determining the association of the factor. Results showed that parents’ nutritional knowledge on diet, disease, and weight management section ( p = .045), permissive parenting style ( p = .037), and Emotional Under-Eating (EUE) section ( p = .014) have significant association with adolescents being overweight and obese. The parents’ nutritional knowledge on diet, disease, and weight management, permissive parenting style, and dietary behavior on EUE is significantly associated with adolescent overweight and obesity.