Impact of Carers' Smoking Status on Childhood Obesity in the Growing up in Ireland Cohort Study.

Salome Sunday,Zubair Kabir

doi:10.3390/ijerph16152759

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a growing concern worldwide. The association between childhood obesity and maternal smoking and/or paternal smoking has been reported. However, few studies have explored the association between childhood obesity and exposure to carers’ smoking status. This study aimed to assess the impact of carers’ smoking status on childhood obesity in a cohort of children enrolled in the Growing up in Ireland (GUI) study. Participants from the GUI infant cohort were categorized into four groups based on their exposure status: Neither caregiver smoked (60.4%), only primary caregiver smoked (13.4%), both caregivers smoked (10.9%). Exposure to primary carers’ smoking (98% are biological mothers) was found to be significantly associated with childhood overweight/obesity at age three (Odds Ratio: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.17–1.46) and at age five (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.16–1.49). Exposure to both carers’ smoking status was significantly associated with increased odds of childhood overweight/obesity across both waves. These findings emphasize the health burden of childhood obesity that may be attributable to maternal smoking postnatally and through early childhood in Ireland.

Highlights

IntroductionRecent trends show stabilization of obesity prevalence throughout the population in many nations [2,3,4,5,6,7], including Ireland
The issue of childhood obesity has emerged as a serious global epidemic of the 21st century [1].Recent trends show stabilization of obesity prevalence throughout the population in many nations [2,3,4,5,6,7], including Ireland
Study children were participants in a nationally representative follow-up study of children residing in the Republic of Ireland (ROI), the Growing up in Ireland (GUI) cohort Study

Summary

Introduction

Recent trends show stabilization of obesity prevalence throughout the population in many nations [2,3,4,5,6,7], including Ireland. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined for children has increased from 4% to over 18% between 1975 and 2016 [9]. It is estimated that 41 million children under the age of five and over 340 million between the ages of 5–19 are either overweight or obese [9]. Ireland is ranked among the countries with high rates of childhood obesity [10,11]. Current estimates show that about 7% of girls and 6% of boys aged 4–16 are obese in Ireland, putting the country at 58 out of 200 countries in the childhood obesity charts [11]

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Conclusion