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Factors associated with body mass index in Brazilian children: structural equation model

Tatiane Géa-Horta, Rita De Cássia Ribeiro Silva1, Rosemeire Leovigildo Fiaccone

  • 1Nutrition Science Department. Nutrition School, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.. ritaribeiroufba@gmail.com.

Nutricion Hospitalaria
|April 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity is rising globally. This study found that socioeconomic factors, maternal body mass index (BMI), and obesogenic food intake significantly contribute to excess weight in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Childhood overweight and obesity represent a growing global health concern, with increasing prevalence in both developed and developing nations.
  • Understanding the multifactorial determinants of pediatric obesity is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between socioeconomic status, maternal body mass index (BMI), food security, and consumption of obesogenic foods with excess body weight in children.
  • To identify key predictors contributing to the rise in childhood obesity rates.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study utilizing data from 3,676 children from the National Demographic and Health Survey in Brazil.
  • Children's BMI served as the primary outcome measure.
  • Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the relationships between socioeconomic conditions, maternal BMI, food security, obesogenic food intake, and child BMI.

Main Results:

  • Socioeconomic conditions showed a direct positive influence on children's BMI (β = 0.102; p = 0.02), partly mediated by obesogenic food intake (β = 0.018; p = 0.04).
  • A significant direct association was found between maternal BMI and child BMI (β = 0.169; p < 0.001).
  • Higher intake of obesogenic foods was directly associated with increased child BMI (β = 0.114; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Favorable socioeconomic conditions are linked to increased child BMI.
  • Maternal BMI is a significant predictor of child BMI.
  • Increased consumption of obesogenic foods contributes to higher BMI in children, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Abstract

Keywords:
Risk factors. Nutritional status. Child. Structural equation modeling. Brazil.

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