TITLE:
Relationship between Children’s Body Mass Index and Parents’ Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: A Multilevel Analysis Applied with Luxembourg Data
AUTHORS:
Anastase Tchicaya, Nathalie Lorentz
KEYWORDS:
BMI, Obesity, Children, Socioeconomic Status, Luxembourg
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.6 No.17,
October
10,
2014
ABSTRACT: Obesity in children is a health crisis because the problem is increasing
in most developed countries. This study measures the relationship between body
mass index (BMI) of children aged 7 - 12 years residing in Luxembourg and the
weight and socioeconomic status of their parents. The data used are from the
2007 Socio-Economic Panel Liewen zu L?tzebuerg/European Union-Statistics on
Income and Living Conditions survey, which covers a population of approximately
10,000 people. The study sample includes 775 children whose weight and height
were recorded to calculate their BMI. The descriptive analysis with the
socioeconomic distribution of the children’s BMI and the multilevel logistic
regression of the probability to be in overweight or obese were performed. The
mean BMI of children was 17.4 kg/m2 for boys and girls. The prevalence of
overweight was 21.2% (including 3% who were obese). Weight status, educational
level, physical activity, and eating habits of parents were associated with BMI
in children. Furthermore, children of foreign nationality had 2.9 times more
risk to be overweight or obese than other children of Luxembourg nationality
(OR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.38 - 6.10). Children living in household with at least one
parent who was obese were 6.51 times more likely to be in overweight or obese
compared to those in household with both parents normal (OR = 6.51, 95%CI: 2.48
- 17.08). Overall, nationality and weight status of parents were the main
determinants of children’s weight status. Promoting healthy diets and regular
physical activity and educating parents on the consequences of overweight and
obesity on children’s health in adulthood are effective strategies to control
overweight and obesity.