Factors associated with overweight and childhood obesity in Spain according to the latest national health survey (2011)

Maria Julia Ajejas Bazán,Maria Luisa Díaz Martínez,Silvia Domínguez Fernández,Antonio Vázquez Sellán,Maria Del Carmen Sellán Soto

doi:10.1590/2177-9465-ean-2017-0321

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To describe the factors associated with overweight/obesity in Spain according to the latest National Health Survey (2011). Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study with 3,752 children aged 2 to 15 years (boys=2,007; girls=1,745). Main variables: overweight; obesity; gender; level of education of the head of the family; monthly income; hours of sleep; physical exercise; hours of TV and/or computer use; daily breakfast; parents' weight perception. Diagnostic criterion was based on WHO growth patterns, defined overweight with +1SD and obesity, +2SD. Results: Boys more obese than girls. Children whose parents had a lower level of education, those who did not practice physical activity and whose parents had an income of less than 900€ per month showed a higher percentage of overweight/obesity. Conclusions: Children whose parents had a lower education and monthly income presented a higher percentage of obesity. Sleeping the recommended hours and doing some type of physical activity reduces obesity.

Highlights

In order to promote healthy environments in different age groups, from birth to adolescence, the International Network of Nursing in Child Health (ENSI Network/Red ENSI) promotes the need to know the epidemiological scenario of diseases prevalent in these age groups
Children whose parents had a lower level of education, those who did not practice physical activity and whose parents had an income of less than 900€ per month showed a higher percentage of overweight/obesity
Children whose parents had a lower education and monthly income presented a higher percentage of obesity

Summary

Introduction

In order to promote healthy environments in different age groups, from birth to adolescence, the International Network of Nursing in Child Health (ENSI Network/Red ENSI) promotes the need to know the epidemiological scenario of diseases prevalent in these age groups. One of the most important, due to its prevalence, is childhood obesity. Today, it is considered a public health problem and has increased especially in Europe.[1] According to the World Health Organization (WHO),[2] it is a chronic disease that has become an epidemic in some areas, with an overall estimate of 17.6% in children under five years of age. Among the reasons that led obesity to become a social problem, we have an increasing prevalence in the general population, reaching epidemic proportions, pathology of all age groups, its role as a predictor of adult obesity, and its links with associated morbidity and mortality.[5,6]

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Conclusion