Childhood Obesity and Familial Environmental Factor according to the Developmental Stages: the Korea NHANES Study

Ko, Jeong Ah

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association between childhood obesity and its risk factors according to specific childhood developmental stages.
METHODS
We performed an analysis of data for 1922 children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years obtained from the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2005. Weight and height were measured by trained interviewers. Childhood obesity was defined as BMI > or =95th percentile of the BMI cut-off point based on the Korean child growth curve. Data on socioeconomic characteristics such as age, education, occupation, income, physical activity and time spent watching television were collected using a well-established questionnaire and/or interview.
RESULTS
The prevalence of obesity defined by using the Korean child growth curve was 4.1% in children aged 2 to 6, 6.3% in children aged 7 to 12, and 8.7% in adolescents aged 13 to 18. In the multiple logistic regression model, parental obesity, and time spent watching television were associated with increased risk of obesity in children aged 2~6. Parental obesity, family income level, birth weight, and time spent watching television were positively associated with obesity in children aged 7~12. In adolescents aged 13~18, participation in vigorous physical activity and attempts to control weight were associated with adolescent obesity.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence and risk factors of childhood obesity vary substantially according to developmental stage. Differential approaches are needed for effective control of childhood obesity.