Factors affecting obesity in preadolescents: the case of Cappadocia

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the risk factors which affect obesity in preadolescents. Materials and Methods:The sample of the study consisted of 500 preadolescents (girls: n=271, boys: n=229) attended in 18 secondary schools in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, and their parents. Data were collected using a questionnaire, the body weight, height, and waist circumference of the preadolescents were measured; the body mass index (BMI) and the waist-toheight ratio were calculated. Results: Of preadolescents; 14.4% were obese, 11.4% were overweight, 35.2% had abdominal obesity, and 27% had likehood of being at high metabolic and cardiovascular risk based on their waist/height ratio. According to the results of binary multiple logistic regression analysis (the backward stepwise procedure), the presence of an obese person in the family (boys), mother's educational level (girls), leisure time activities (girls), and an increase in eating according to mood (girls) were revealed as significant predictors of being overweight/obese, adjusted for age. Satisfied with current body weight and mother's BMI were the strongest variable to be associated with overweight/obese for both genders. Conclusion: For early diagnosis and prevention of obesity in childhood, it is recommended to perform height-weight monitoring of students regularly, monitor risky children more frequently, provide training and consultancy for students and parents regarding balanced diets and physical activity, and provide the school-family cooperation. Amaç: Bu çalışma preadölesanlarda obeziteyi etkileyen risk faktörlerini belirlenmek amacıyla kesitsel olarak yapılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmanın örneklemini, Türkiye'de Kapadokya Bölgesinde bulunan bir il merkezindeki 18 ortaokulda öğrenim gören 500 preadölesan (kız: 271, erkek: 229) ve onların ebeveyni oluşturmuştur. Veriler Anket Formu ile toplanmış, preadölesanların vücut ağırlığı, boy uzunluğu ve bel çevresi ölçülmüş, Beden Kütle İndeksi (BKİ), bel/boy oranı hesaplanmıştır. Bulgular: Ergenlerin %14.4'ünün obez, %11.4'ünün fazla kilolu, %35.2'sinin abdominal obez, bel/boy oranına göre %27'sinin metabolik ve kardiyovasküler hastalıklara yakalanma açısından riskli grupta olduğu belirlemiştir. Çoklu logistik regresyon analizi sonuçlarına göre, ailede obez birey varlığı (erkek), annenin eğitim düzeyi (kız), boş zaman aktiviteleri (kız), duygusal duruma göre yemek yeme artışı (kız) fazla kilolu/obez olmanın anlamlı yordayıcıları olarak saptanmıştır. Mevcut vücut ağırlığından memnuniyet ve annenin BKİ'si, her iki cinsiyet için de fazla kilolu/obezite ile ilişkilendirilen en güçlü değişken olarak belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Çocukluk çağı obezitesinin erken belirlenmesi ve önlenmesi için düzenli aralıklarla öğrencilerin boy kilo izleminin yapılması, riskli çocukların daha sık izlenmesi, dengeli ve düzenli beslenme ile fiziksel aktiviteye ilişkin ebeveyn ve öğrencilere eğitim ve danışmanlık verilmesi, okul-aile işbirliğinin sağlanması önerilebilir.

Nutrition literacy status and its association with adherence to the Mediterranean diet, anthropometric parameters and lifestyle behaviours among early adolescents

“…Regarding anthropometric measurements, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study investigating the relationship between nutrition literacy with waist, hip and neck circumference among adolescents. Although nutritional literacy was associated with healthy lifestyle behaviours, the non-significant association between nutrition literacy and BMI and anthropometric measurements can be explained by the fact that these parameters are influenced not only by the nutritional literacy level but also by other factors such as lifestyle, environmental, psychological and genetic factors ( 44 ) . The present study did not examine the relationship between these other factors and BMI.…”

Psychosocial and environmental risk factors of obesity and hypertension in children and adolescents—a literature overview

“…Since then, several cross sectional and longitudinal studies endorsed this statement, reporting evidence of the association between mood dysregulation and medical conditions, such as obesity or hypertension, in children and adolescents. A study conducted in Turkey, the European country with the highest rates of overweight and obesity, found increased eating behaviours associated with negative feelings in preadolescents, possibly as a coping strategy, that can result in weight gain ( 125 , 126 ). Regarding the direct relationship of mood disorders with obesity and hypertension in children and adolescents, Medrano et al reported results about cardiovascular risk factors in youth with overweight and obesity ( 127 ).…”