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Risk factors for childhood obesity in a transitional society in Thailand
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. mladda@ratree.psu.ac.th
Objective:
To identify factors associated with childhood obesity among the population of Hat Yai municipality, a transitional society in Thailand.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Subjects:
2161 primary schoolchildren, aged 6-13 completed years.
Measurements:
Weight-for-height of children by measurement, parental weight and height, parental income, family history of disease and children's activities by questionnaire.
Results:
Prevalence of obesity was 14.1%. Using polytomous logistic regression, statistically significant associations with obesity were found for family history of obesity (relative rate ratio, RRR = 3.1), low exercise level (RRR = 2.6 vs normal), obesity in mother and father (RRR = 1.9 and 2.2, respectively vs normal weight status). Significant trends of increased risk were associated with higher family income and smaller family size. The highest population attributable fraction was that for family history of obesity (34%), followed by those for low exercise level (12%) and an obese or overweight mother (10%).
Conclusion:
As the parental and family factors identified in this study cannot be readily modified, increasing exercise may be the most appropriate intervention to prevent obesity in childhood.