Maternal misperceptions and smoking are major factors associated with overweight and obesity in 5-6 y-old low SES children

Vered Kaufman-Shriqui, Drora Fraser, Lena Novack, Hillel Vardi, Natalya Bilenko, Naama Elhadad, Karen Mor, Zvi Feine, Rivka Shai, Danit Shahar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk-factors beyond the traditional predictors for obesity among low socioeconomic status (LSES) children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed among twelve randomly selected LSES daycare centers. Children (aged 5-6y) and mothers were recruited, and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Age and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated. Mothers were interviewed about socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, perceptions and beliefs. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity (above the 85th percentile for BMI-z-score) was 29.8% for children (n=251) and 51.8% (BMI ≥25) for mothers (n=220). Mean age and sleeping hours, sex distribution and level of poverty were similar between the normal and overweight-obese children groups. Over 82% of mothers underestimated their child's weight status. Of the 62 overweight-obese children, 74.2% were defined by their mothers as having 'normal weight' and 8% were defined as 'thin'. Mothers defined 67 out of 158 normal weight children (42.4%) as 'thin' (p
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication138st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition 2010
Subtitle of host publicationNEHLM childhood obesity initiative
StatePublished - 8 Nov 2010

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