Associations between family income and children's physical fitness and obesity in California, 2010-2012.

Yichen Jin,Jessica C Jones-Smith

doi:10.5888/pcd12.140392

Abstract

IntroductionSocioeconomic status may influence childhood obesity prevalence and children’s fitness level. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between family income and children’s physical fitness level and obesity prevalence for 8 racial/ethnic groups.MethodsData for 1,617,400 fifth-, seventh-, and ninth-grade children who took a physical fitness test from 2010 through 2012 in California were used in this cross-sectional study. Multiple linear and log-binomial regressions were used to test whether low family income (as indicated by eligibility for National School Lunch Program) was associated with physical fitness level or obesity prevalence. Differences were tested by race/ethnicity while adjusting for age and sex. Fitness score was measured on a scale from 0 (least healthy) to 6 (most healthy).ResultsAverage fitness score was 4.45 (standard deviation, 1.47). Prevalence of obesity was 20.3%, and 56% of children were classified as having lower family income. Lower family income (vs higher) was associated with lower fitness score (coefficient = −0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.62 to −0.53). Lower-income children had higher prevalence of obesity (relative risk = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.72–1.89) compared with higher-income children. These inverse associations were seen among American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, Hispanic/Latino, African American, and white children and among children who were identified as being of 2 or more races/ethnicities.ConclusionChildren with lower family incomes tend to have less healthy physical fitness status and have higher risk of obesity than children with higher family incomes. This information can be used to help set policies and provide programs aimed at improving fitness and decreasing obesity risk among low-income children.

Highlights

Socioeconomic status may influence childhood obesity prevalence and children’s fitness level
These inverse associations were seen among American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, Hispanic/Latino, African American, and white children and among children who were identified as being of 2 or more races/ethnicities
Children with lower family incomes tend to have less healthy physical fitness status and have higher risk of obesity than children with higher family incomes. This information can be used to help set policies and provide programs aimed at improving fitness and decreasing obesity risk among low-income children

Summary

Introduction

Socioeconomic status may influence childhood obesity prevalence and children’s fitness level. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between family income and children’s physical fitness level and obesity prevalence for 8 racial/ethnic groups. Obese children have higher risk of obesity in adulthood [3], which is associated with comorbidities [4]. Socioeconomic status (SES) may play a role in both childhood obesity prevalence and children’s physical fitness levels. Previous studies have reported that children of low SES have higher risk of obesity than children of high SES [6,7]. Racial/ethnic disparities in obesity have been reported [1,10], few studies have examined the relationship between SES and obesity within racial/ethnic groups. Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicated that SES is associated with lower risk for obesity only among white children [11]. In that study, children with a range of ages (2–19 years) were grouped together; the sample size was only moderately sized after stratifying by race and sex; and only white, African American, and Hispanic populations were included

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