Obesity Associated with Birth Place among Migrant Children in China ()
Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity has
become one of the most important epidemic problems in the world, both in
developed and underdeveloped areas. Purpose: In this study, we aimed to
examine the relationship between obesity and the birth place of migrant
children in Shanghai, China. Methods: A crosssectional survey was
conducted in April 2018, and a multistage, random cluster sampling method was applied.
The final sample included 3707 children between 7 to 12 years old (1917 boys
and 1790 girls). We conducted anthropometric measurements (height, weight) and
questionnaire investigation. Results: Children who were born in north
China were more likely to be obese (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01-1.87), compared
with those who were born in HMT (Hong Kong; Macao and Taiwan). The same goes
for East China (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.11-2.23), Northwest China (OR = 1.43,
95% CI = 1.21-3.14) and Southwest China (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.34-3.29) when
comparing children who were born in these divisions with those who were born in
HMT (Hong Kong; Macao and Taiwan; children born in Northeast
China were most likely to be overweight (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.63-2.82). Conclusion: At the provincial level, we found that Heilongjiang, Chongqing, Liaoning have
the highest prevalence of obesity. At the regional level, children born in Northeastern China are the most likely
to be obese than those born in HMT (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), among children
born in North China, East China, Northwest China and Southwest China.
1. Introduction
With the continuous progress of the society and the rapid development of the economy, the economic gap between developed and underdeveloped areas is enlarging. After the Reform and Opening, a great many people went to the developed areas to seek job opportunities. As an important component of the floating population, migrant children have also increased rapidly in number. By 2015, there were more than 35 million migrant children under the age of 17 (Lu, Gong, Yin et al., 2016). Besides, social progress and economic development are directly contributing to the constant improvement of people’s living standards and quality of life. People pay more attention to eating and eat more abundantly. The high-fat and high-energy diet habits, which lead to more energy intake, and the increasing number of sit-ins, directly lead to the increase of overweight and obesity year by year (WHO, 2010; Li, & Ma, 2002). Nowadays, obesity has become one of the most important epidemic problems in the world; especially childhood obesity is a key public health issue in both developed and underdeveloped areas (Reilly, 2006).
Some studies show that migrant children have dysplasia and a lot of common diseases (Hu, Cook, & Ma, 2008; Yan, 2005), and it was reported that they are experiencing overweight and obesity in these individuals, which is associated with socioeconomic status and eating habits (Lu, Yin, Deng, & Liu, 2017; Lu, Yin, Xiong, Liu et al., 2015), while socioeconomic status and lifestyle vary from region to region. This study aimed to examine the relationship between obesity and the birth place of migrant children in Shanghai, China, and to provide theoretical basis for the prevention of obesity in migrant children.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Participants
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2018, and a multi-stage, random cluster sampling method was applied. The final sample included 3707 children between 7 to 12 years old (1917 boys and 1790 girls). We conducted anthropometric measurements (height, weight) and questionnaire investigation. Informed consent was obtained from the parents of all subjects. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of School of Physical Education and Health of East China Normal University.
2.2. Definition of Overweight and Obesity
Overweight and obesity were classified according to age- and gender-specific BMI cutoff points which developed for Chinese children (Group of China Obesity Task Force, 2004).
2.3. Methods
We calculated BMI according to the formula: weight (kg)/height (m2), and used the BMI standards of Chinese children and adolescents to define wasting weight, normal weight, overweight and obese weight (Group of China Obesity Task Force, 2004). Firstly, we compared the percentage of obesity in migrant children according to the birth place (province); secondly, China was divided into eight parts: 1) North China (Beijing; Tianjin; Hebei; Shanxi; Inner Mongol); 2) Northeast China (Heilongjiang; Liaoning; Jilin); 3) East China (Shandong; Jiangsu; Anhui; Jiangxi; Zhejiang; Fujian; Shanghai); 4) Central China (Hubei; Hunan; Henan); 5) South China (Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan); 6) Northwest China (Ningxia; Xinjiang; Qinghai; Gansu; Shanxi); 7) Southwest China (Sichuan; Guizhou; Yunnan; Tibet; Chongqing); 8) HMT (Hong Kong; Macao and Taiwan). Thirdly, a logistic regression was used to analyze the association between birth place (province) and obesity. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA).
3. Results
Figure 1 shows the obese percentage in different birth places, we can find that the prevalence of obesity in Heilongjiang was the highest among all the provinces (37.5%), followed by Chongqing (27.8%), Liaoning (26%) and then Hunan (1.1%). No obesity was detected in Guangxi, Tianjin, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Tibet, Jilin and Macao.
We conducted the logistic regression for both obesity and birth place (regional division of China) while controlling for children’s gender and age. Children who were born in north China were more likely to be obese (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.87), compared with those who were born in HMT (Hong Kong; Macao and Taiwan). The same goes for East China (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.11 - 2.23), Northwest China (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.21 - 3.14) and Southwest China (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.34 - 3.29) when comparing children who were born in these divisions with those who were born in HMT (Hong Kong; Macao and Taiwan), children born in Northeast China were most likely to be overweight (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.63 - 2.82) (Table 1).
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Table 1. Birth place (regional division of China) associated with obesity in rural-to-urban migrant children by logistic regression.
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Figure 1. Birth place (province) associated with the prevalence of obesity in migrant children.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, Heilongjiang, Chongqing, Liaoning have the highest prevalence of obesity at the provincial level. In terms of regional division, children who were born in Northeast China are most likely to be obese than those in HMT (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), among children who were born in North China, East China, Northwest China and Southwest China. Therefore, ensuring enough attention to obesity in these areas is of great significance in controlling overweight and obesity in rural-to-urban migrant children.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the cohort study investigators, specifically SC Li, SJ Yin, GD Wang, JH Zhu. This study was supported by Jiangxi Province Social Science University Humanity (18TY10).