Abstract
Evidence has identified unhealthy lifestyle behaviors as the main contributors to obesity in children, so it is essential to identify factors that could influence children’s lifestyles. The objective of the present study was to analyze the association of baseline maternal educational level with child’s physical activity, screen time, and dietary habits at follow-up. This community-based cohort study was carried out between 2012 and 2014 and included 1405 children aged 8 to 10 years old. Maternal educational level was used as an indicator of child’s socioeconomic status. Physical activity, screen time, and dietary habits were assessed by validated questionnaires. The odds of having commercially baked goods for breakfast [OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.03 to 2.10)], going more than once a week to a fast-food restaurant [OR 1.64 (95% CI 1.20 to 2.26)], and taking sweets and candys several times a day [OR 3.23 (95% CI 2.14 to 4.87) were significantly higher among children whose mothers had a lower educational level compared to their peers whose mothers had a higher level. These associations held for taking sweets and candy several times a day after additional adjustment for the corresponding dietary behavior at baseline. Maternal educational level was inversely associated (p < 0.001) with child’s screen time at follow up and being in the lowest maternal educational category was associated with an increased odds of surpassing the maximum recommended time of screen time of 120 min per day (OR (95% CI) 1.43 (1.07 to 1.90), p = 0.016). Maternal education is a predictor for unhealthy dietary habits and high screen time in children.
Highlights
In recent decades, the exponential increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity has become a major public health problem [1,2]
The present study found that a lower level of maternal education was associated with an increased risk of having unhealthy dietary habits in children, including having commercially baked goods for breakfast, going to a fast-food restaurant more than once a week, or taking sweets and candys several times a day
Lower maternal educational level was positively associated with child screen-time and not meeting screen-time recommendations
Summary
The exponential increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity has become a major public health problem [1,2]. According to the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI), 67% and 77% of children do not consume fruits and fresh vegetables, respectively, on a daily basis [14] This discouraging evidence, along with the fact that a low-quality diet tends to endure during later adolescence, demands for a prompt call to action [14,15]. In this line, one of the initial steps is to identify the determinants of detrimental lifestyle behaviors to improve, on a later stage, the design of public health strategies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
