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Updated: May 13, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Overweight in singletons compared to children with siblings: the IDEFICS study
M Hunsberger1, A Formisano, L A Reisch
1Public Health Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Nutrition & Diabetes
|March 2, 2013
Summary
Only children are more likely to be overweight than children with siblings. This increased risk persists even after accounting for behavioral factors like screen time and diet.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health
- Public health
- Childhood obesity research
Background:
- Overweight prevalence is a growing global concern in children.
- Understanding factors contributing to childhood overweight is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare overweight prevalence in singleton children versus those with siblings.
- To investigate potential behavioral mediating factors in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study using data from the IDEFICS project across eight European countries.
- Inclusion of 12,720 children aged 2-9 years with measured anthropometry and parent-reported data.
- Statistical analysis controlling for various socio-demographic and lifestyle factors.
Main Results:
- Singleton children showed a 52% higher likelihood of being overweight compared to children with siblings (OR 1.52).
- Higher overweight risk was observed in southernmost European countries, independent of singleton status.
- The excess risk in singletons remained significant after adjusting for behavioral factors like screen time and dietary habits.
Conclusions:
- Being a singleton child is an independent risk factor for childhood overweight.
- Geographical variations in overweight prevalence exist, not fully explained by singleton status.
- Targeted interventions may be needed for singleton children to address overweight risks.
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