Socio-economic factors and body composition

Abstract

This study supplies further data to the question of influence of social background in body development. There are a great number of studies concerning the influence of socio-economic factors on growth. On the other hand, there are very few investigations into the factors of body composition though these factors give more information about the developmental stage of the children's skeleton, muscle and fat mass than any absolute measurement. The social status was established on the basis of the parents' occupation, educational level, the per capita income, per capita room-quota and sibling number. Beyond these factors the effects of maternal age at childbirth and birth order were investigated in a sample of 3553 boys and 3371 girls aged between 7–14. Body composition was studied by a two-component model. Results of body composition have shown that children living under better social circumstances are not only heavier, because they have more developed skeleton and musculature, but have more body fat mass too. The excess of their body fat mass is caused in part by the unaltered habits of nutrition, in part by sedentary life style. These results stress the necessity for a more efficient somatic and environmental education.