Relationships between Parental Education and Overweight with Childhood Overweight and Physical Activity in 9-11 Year Old Children: Results from a 12-Country Study.

Stella Muthuri ,Olga L Sarmiento,Gang Hu,Estelle V Lambert,Anura Kurpad,José Maia,Peter T Katzmarzyk,Timothy S Church,Pei Zhao,Mark S Tremblay,Stephanie T Broyles,Martyn Standage,Rebecca Kuriyan,Mikael Fogelholm,Carol Maher,Tim Olds ,Vincent Onywera ,Catrine Tudor‐Locke ,Victor Keihan Rodrigues Matsudo ,Jean‐Philippe Chaput

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147746

Abstract

BackgroundGlobally, the high prevalence of overweight and low levels of physical activity among children has serious implications for morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood. Various parental factors are associated with childhood overweight and physical activity. The objective of this paper was to investigate relationships between parental education or overweight, and (i) child overweight, (ii) child physical activity, and (iii) explore household coexistence of overweight, in a large international sample.MethodsData were collected from 4752 children (9–11 years) as part of the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment in 12 countries around the world. Physical activity of participating children was assessed by accelerometry, and body weight directly measured. Questionnaires were used to collect parents’ education level, weight, and height.ResultsMaternal and paternal overweight were positively associated with child overweight. Higher household coexistence of parent-child overweight was observed among overweight children compared to the total sample. There was a positive relationship between maternal education and child overweight in Colombia 1.90 (1.23–2.94) [odds ratio (confidence interval)] and Kenya 4.80 (2.21–10.43), and a negative relationship between paternal education and child overweight in Brazil 0.55 (0.33–0.92) and the USA 0.54 (0.33–0.88). Maternal education was negatively associated with children meeting physical activity guidelines in Colombia 0.53 (0.33–0.85), Kenya 0.35 (0.19–0.63), and Portugal 0.54 (0.31–0.96).ConclusionsResults are aligned with previous studies showing positive associations between parental and child overweight in all countries, and positive relationships between parental education and child overweight or negative associations between parental education and child physical activity in lower economic status countries. Relationships between maternal and paternal education and child weight status and physical activity appear to be related to the developmental stage of different countries. Given these varied relationships, it is crucial to further explore familial factors when investigating child overweight and physical activity.

Highlights

Maintaining a healthy body weight and participating in adequate levels of physical activity have the potential to improve cardiorespiratory, muscular, bone, and psychosocial health, while reducing the risk for several non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [1,2,3]
There was a positive relationship between maternal education and child overweight in Colombia 1.90 (1.23–2.94) [odds ratio] and Kenyatta University Ethics Review Committee (Kenya) 4.80 (2.21–10.43), and a negative relationship between paternal education and child overweight in Brazil 0.55 (0.33–0.92) and the USA 0.54 (0.33–0.88)
Maternal education was negatively associated with children meeting physical activity guidelines in Colombia 0.53 (0.33–0.85), Kenya 0.35 (0.19–0.63), and Portugal 0.54 (0.31–0.96)

Summary

Introduction

Maintaining a healthy body weight and participating in adequate levels of physical activity have the potential to improve cardiorespiratory, muscular, bone, and psychosocial health, while reducing the risk for several non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [1,2,3]. The health risks associated with overweight or obesity and inadequate physical activity levels are a particular problem among children owing to increased risk for morbidity and premature mortality in their adult years [4, 5, 6]. It is recommended that children and youth aged 5 to 17 years accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) daily in order to accrue positive health benefits [8]. The high prevalence of overweight and low levels of physical activity among children has serious implications for morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood. Various parental factors are associated with childhood overweight and physical activity. The objective of this paper was to investigate relationships between parental education or overweight, and (i) child overweight, (ii) child physical activity, and (iii) explore household coexistence of overweight, in a large international sample

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion