Psychosocial Factors and Obesity in Adolescence: A Case-Control Study.

Elisabeth K Andrie,Stephanos Michalacos,Artemis Tsitsika,Alexandros Gryparis,Marina Melissourgou,Theodoros N Sergentanis,Kyriaki Karavanaki,Flora Bacopoulou,Anais Renouf,Elpis Vlachopapadopoulou,Maria Tsolia

doi:10.3390/children8040308

Abstract

Introduction: The continuously increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Greece is among the countries with the highest childhood obesity prevalence rates. The present study aims to identify psychosocial factors associated with excess body weight of adolescents. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in Athens, Greece, and included 414 adolescents aged 11–18 years. Anthropometric measurements were recorded, and an anonymous self-completed questionnaire captured the psychosocial background, family environment, peer relations, and school environment. Results: Of the total sample of adolescents, 54.6% had normal body weight and 45.4% were overweight or obese. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the factors related to the presence of overweight/obesity were adolescents’ age (OR = 0.416, p < 0.001), area of residence, presence of anxiety (OR = 4.661, p = 0.001), presence of melancholia (OR = 2.723, p = 0.016), participation in sports (OR = 0.088, p <0.001), smoking (OR = 0.185, p = 0.005), and mother’s occupation (OR = 0.065, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Psychological problems, maternal occupation, the absence of physical activity, and poor school performance were associated with adolescent overweight/obesity. It is important that screening for the presence of psychosocial issues is included in childhood obesity policies and treatment.

Highlights

The continuously increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions
Most of the participants (96.1%) lived in the Attica Region, and only 3.9% lived in other areas of Greece; 38.9% of normal weight participants were living in the western suburbs, while 35% of the overweight/obese adolescents lived in the center of Athens (p-value < 0.001)
The present study examined the psychosocial correlates of obesity in adolescents in Greece

Summary

Introduction

The continuously increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Greece is among the countries with the highest childhood obesity prevalence rates. Childhood and adolescent obesity is considered to be a major public health problem of the 21st century that has reached epidemic proportions [1]. Its prevalence has increased, as the number of overweight and obese children has risen dramatically from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016 [2]. In 2016, approximately 340 million children and adolescents aged between five and 19 years old worldwide were diagnosed with overweight or obesity [2]. And Spain are among the countries with the highest childhood obesity rates in Europe [4]. Other studies report rates of 37% for girls and 45% for boys for overweight or obesity in Greece [3]

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Conclusion