Proximal and Distal Factors Associated With Obesity in Childhood: An Exploratory Structural Equation Model.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric obesity research
• Public health
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Childhood obesity involves complex interactions between weight, health behaviors, and environmental factors.
• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is a valuable tool for analyzing these intricate relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize SEM to map the influence of various etiological clusters on childhood obesity.
• To understand the interplay of proximal and distal variables in pediatric weight status.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of baseline data from a multi-site pediatric weight management study.
• Utilized SEM to evaluate influences on weight status (%95BMI) within the Ecological Model.
• Included 375 child-parent dyads with imputed data.

Main Results:

• Proximal factors (child stress, mobility, parent BMI) significantly predicted weight status (%95BMI).
• Distal family-level factors indirectly influenced weight status through proximal factors.
• Neighborhood deprivation (Area Deprivation Index) directly impacted weight status and family factors.

Conclusions:

• Proximal factors are primary drivers of childhood obesity, except for neighborhood deprivation.
• Distal factors exert influence indirectly by affecting proximal factors.
• SEM is effective for investigating childhood obesity contributors and identifying intervention targets.