Abstract
ISEE-0447 Background and Objective: The worldwide increase in obesity prevalence is an epidemic. Obesity in childhood is a risk for obesity and obesity related diseases in adulthood. The purpose of the study was to evaluate an association between body mass index (BMI) and obesity and selected family psychosocial factors. Methods: We assessed overweight (BMI [kg.m−2] over 90th percentile) and obesity (BMI over 97th percentile) in children on the basis of 5th and 6th Slovak nationwide cross-sectional anthropometric surveys (1991, 2001) in representative samples (118,400 and 35,600 children and youth), 2 to 18-year-olds of both genders. Psychosocial data of families (education and occupation of parents, ethnicity and completeness of family) were obtained by questionnaire. The programs Microsoft Excel and S-Plus were used for analysis. Results: During the decade the mean value of BMI significantly increased only in 9 to 15-year-old boys (0.3–0.4 kg.m−2, P < 0.001) and in 7–11 year-old girls (0.15–0.4 kg.m−2, P < 0.01–P < 0.001); BMI mean value of boys in the age of 2–8 and 16–18 remain unchanged and in 12–18 year old girls was significantly decreased. Overweight and obesity was negatively associated with parental education. Significant negative relationships were identified between the incidence of overweight and maternal educational level in girls (P = 0.0025). Multiple linear regression did not confirm a significant association with ethnicity (Romany children and adolescents) and completeness of family. Studied socio-economic factors acted together with other patterns in the family (nutritional, physical activities, etc.). Conclusion: Although family social factors, particularly maternal educational level is related to children overweight, the associations vary according age and gender. Protection and promotion of children and youth healthy development requires optimal conditions based on knowledge of the interaction between the developing organism and influencing exogenous and endogenous factors. Supported by VEGA 1/4274/07.
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