Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Relationship between child health literacy and body mass index in overweight children

Iman Sharif1, Arthur E Blank

  • 1General Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA. isharif@nemours.org

Patient Education and Counseling
|September 1, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Child health literacy is linked to lower body mass index (BMI) Z-scores in overweight children. Improving health literacy may aid behavior change interventions for childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Public Health
  • Health Literacy Research

Background:

  • Childhood overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns.
  • Health literacy is a critical determinant of health outcomes.
  • Understanding factors influencing childhood BMI is essential for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between child health literacy and body mass index (BMI) Z-score.
  • To explore the role of health literacy in overweight pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional survey was conducted with overweight children and their parents.
  • Health literacy was assessed using the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy (STOFHLA).
  • Linear regression analysis identified predictors of childhood BMI Z-score, controlling for confounders.

Main Results:

  • A negative correlation was observed between child health literacy (STOFHLA) and BMI Z-score (r=-0.37, p=0.0009).
  • Child health literacy was independently associated with lower BMI Z-scores after adjusting for confounders (standardized B=-0.43, p<0.0001).
  • Child health literacy explained 13% of the variance in the regression model.

Conclusions:

  • Lower child health literacy is significantly associated with higher BMI Z-scores in overweight children.
  • Health literacy should be considered in interventions targeting childhood obesity, particularly concerning self-efficacy and behavior change.
  • Interventions may benefit from incorporating strategies to enhance health literacy for improved weight management outcomes.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children10:57

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Health Literacy01:21

Health Literacy

Health literacy is an individual's or a community's capacity to comprehend, receive, read, and use relevant healthcare information and services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills that determine the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. As a result, the WHO helps individuals manage long-term health concerns, participate in preventative programs,...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention01:26

Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Health promotion allows a person to control the determinants of health, resulting in an improved health status. It enhances the quality of life and reduces premature deaths. Health promotion and illness prevention programs help people make beneficial choices to reduce the risk of disease and disabilities. There are three health promotion and illness prevention levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II01:18

Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II

The person's health status fluctuates continually, varying from being in good health to becoming ill and returning to being healthy. To understand the concept of illness prevention, there are two models. First, the health-illness continuum model is a graphic representation of an individual's wellness. It states that a person is considered healthy in the absence of physical disease and the presence of good emotional health.
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results from...