Obesity risk factors in a representative group of Polish prepubertal children

The study aim was to evaluate risk factors of obesity in Polish children aged 7 to 9 years.

A representative group of 2571 children (1268 girls and 1303 boys) was randomly selected according to the European Childhood Obesity Group protocol. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. A questionnaire was completed by the children's parents with respect to behavioural and family-related risk factors of obesity. International Obesity Task Force criteria were used for classification of children's obesity.

Obesity was found in 3.7% of girls and 3.6% of boys. There was a statistically significant association between the prevalence of obesity in girls and their mother's obesity: OR = 5.06 (1.96-13.05), p < 0.001, father's obesity: OR = 5.19 (1.96-13.69), p < 0.001, and both parents' obesity: OR = 5.43 (1.39-21.29), p = 0.01. Obesity in boys was significantly associated with mother's obesity: OR = 5.6 (2.6-12.02), p < 0.001, father's obesity: OR = 6.21 (2.89-13.37), p < 0.001, and both parents' obesity: OR = 7.22 (2.44-31.33), p < 0.001. Skipping or irregular eating of breakfast was a risk factor for obesity in girls with OR = 2.71 (1.33-5.51), p = 0.005. Neither family income nor parents' education level was related to their offspring's obesity. TV watching, physical activity level and eating in fast food places were not significant risk factors for obesity.

Eating breakfast regularly seems to protect girls from obesity development while low physical activity is not a significant obesity risk factor in this age group for either boys or girls. This finding stresses the more important role of healthy diet than physical activity promotion in obesity prevention in prepubertal children.