The relationship between selected socioeconomic factors and basic anthropometric parameters of school-aged children and adolescents in Poland

Abstract

The aim of the present paper was to examine the associations between anthropometric parameters, overweight, obesity, and socioeconomic status (SES) of children and adolescents in Poland. Data were collected in the “Elaboration of reference blood pressure ranges for children and adolescents in Poland” OLAF-PL0080 (OLAF) study, a nationally representative survey on growth and blood pressure references for children and adolescents aged 7–18 years. Body height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Anthropometric parameters were standardized for age and gender and expressed as z-scores. Statistical analyses were conducted on 10,950 children and adolescents whose parents provided socioeconomic questionnaires. The associations between anthropometric parameters, overweight (including obesity), and SES were analyzed using multiple regression and multiple logistic regression. The height was positively associated with higher levels of maternal education and, in the case of girls, also with paternal education. Higher level of income per capita, but not the highest, was associated with higher weight, BMI, and WC and, in the case of boys, also tall stature. The height, weight, BMI, and waist were significantly inversely associated with number of children in the family. Lower number of children in the family and higher level of income, but not the highest, increased odds of overweight and obesity. In the case of girls, the odds of obesity decreased with paternal higher level of education. Conclusion: The social position associated with parents’ education, better environment, and SES correlate with body height and weight of a child. However, it is associated with higher risk of overweight and abdominal obesity.

Trends in childhood obesity and central adiposity between 1998-2001 and 2010-2012 according to household income and urbanity in Korea

“…These clear gender differences in Korea are interesting because, in recent years, positive relationships between adiposity measures and SEP have become uncommon, particularly in developed countries [ 18 ]. A recent study conducted in Poland showed similar gender differences with respect to SEP in relation with WC and BMI [ 19 ]. Two explanations are possible.…”

The frequency of overweight and obesity occurrence among Polish children (age 6–7 years) in relation to the place of residence, the education level of parents and the number children in the family

“…Considering three periods of development: childhood, early and late adolescence in boys the prevalence of overweight (from 19.19% to 19.64%) and obesity (from 5.56% to 4.87%) was similar, but in corresponding girls' groups prevalence of overweight (from 17.53% to 9.88%) and obesity (from 6.30% to 1.91%) has decreased in older age groups (Gomuła et al2015). A few studies have observed the following trend: families with higher socio-economic statuses had the most obese boys and the fewest obese girls (Jopkiewicz et al 2011, Gurzkowska et al 2014, Mladenova and Andreenko 2015. Brisbois et al (2011) 15 of the reviewed studies have found an association between fathers with low levels of education or employment status and adulthood obesity in their sons or daughters.…”

Grandparental education, parental education and adolescent blood pressure

“…9,10 Specifically, maternal education could be more closely related to child health than paternal education. Some studies have shown a relatively greater contribution of maternal education to child health behaviour, 11 physical growth 12 and health care access. 13 To date, maternal education has been found inversely associated with blood pressure in children in three prospective Western cohort studies.…”