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The relationship between children's flourishing and being overweight
Tae Eung Kim1, Chang-Yong Jang2
1Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation
|October 3, 2018
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Child Development
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing pandemic with complex contributing factors.
- Understanding the role of child flourishing in obesity is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between children's flourishing and obesity.
- To examine how factors like age, gender, race, family, school, and community influence this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a subsample of 45,309 children from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health.
- Childhood obesity was determined using body mass index percentiles.
- Analyzed data using the Flourishing scale and statistical significance (P<0.01).
Main Results:
- Hispanic American children had a higher likelihood of being overweight (P<0.01).
- Non-overweight children exhibited more flourishing, greater physical activity, and less sedentary behavior (P<0.01).
- Parental marital/health status, social capital, and neighborhood amenities significantly impacted children's weight status (P<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Children's flourishing is linked to a lower risk of obesity.
- Family, school, and community environments that promote flourishing are vital in combating childhood obesity.
- A holistic approach considering multiple socio-environmental factors is necessary for positive impact.
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