Abstract
The increasing obesity trend in adolescence is a public health concern. The initial phase of Feeding Exercise Trial in Adolescents (FETA) aimed in investigating the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents and their parents and in identifying associated factors among parents’ and adolescents’ demographics, eating habits, and parental style. The sample consisted of 816 adolescents, aged 12–18 years old, and their parents from 17 middle and high schools in Larissa, central Greece. During school visits, anthropometric measurements were performed along with examination of blood pressure. The students completed the study tool that comprised of demographics and the modified versions of Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), the Parent-Initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire-2 (PIMCQ-2) and the Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire (FEAHQ). Their parents completed a questionnaire with demographics, anthropometrics and FEAHQ. Normal Body Mass Index was found in 75.2% of the adolescents, 2.6% of the adolescents were underweight, 18% overweight and 4.2% obese. Regarding the parents, 76.3% of the fathers and 39.2% of the mothers were overweight or obese. The logistic regression analysis revealed that, overweight or obesity in adolescence was associated with gender (boy), maternal overweight or obesity, lower maternal educational level, eating without feeling hungry, eating in rooms other than kitchen and having a father that motivates by worrying about failing. A significant proportion of adolescents and their parents are overweight or obese. Future interventions should focus both on the parents and children, taking into account the role of parental authority style, in preventing adolescents’ obesity.
Highlights
Obesity in early years of life appears to be an important predictor of adult obesity and morbidity [1], while it is currently considered the most prevalent nutritional disease of children and adolescents in developed countries [2]
The logistic regression analysis revealed that, overweight or obesity in adolescence was associated with gender, maternal overweight or obesity, lower maternal educational level, eating without feeling hungry, eating in rooms other than kitchen and having a father that motivates by worrying about failing
Previous studies in Greece have showed that the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is high, being in line with the reports of other southern European countries [3,4], while a recent review presented a tendency for weight increase in children in the last 30 years [5]
Summary
Obesity in early years of life appears to be an important predictor of adult obesity and morbidity [1], while it is currently considered the most prevalent nutritional disease of children and adolescents in developed countries [2]. Previous studies in Greece have showed that the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is high, being in line with the reports of other southern European countries [3,4], while a recent review presented a tendency for weight increase in children in the last 30 years [5]. Gender [4,6,7], parental weight [7], parental educational level [8], have been among the factors that were associated with obesity in adolescence in previous studies, often with controversial findings. Public Health 2016, 13, 83; doi:10.3390/ijerph13010083 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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