A Comparative Study Examining the Obesity Indices, Psychological Well-being Index Scores, and Nutrient Intakes of Daughters According to Their Mother's Degree of Obesity

Cho, Kang Ok; Kim, Yeon Soo

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the effects a mother's degree of obesity has on her daughter's obesity index, psychological well-being index, and nutrient intakes. The daughters, as study subjects, were classified into two groups according to their mother's body mass index (BMI): an obese group [BMI>25 kg/m2, mother obesity group (MOG)] and a normal weight group [BMI<25 kg/m2, mother normal weight group (MNG)]. The daughters in MOG showed significantly higher percent ideal body weight values than the daughters in MNG (p<0.001). MOG and MNG had significantly different psychological well-being index scores in terms of being classified into a highly stressed group (p<0.001), potentially stressed group (p<0.05), and healthy group (p<0.001). Intakes of daily energy, protein, fat, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorus, and iron were also significantly different (p<0.001) between MOG and MNG. In particular, the vitamin A and C intakes of the MNG daughters were significantly higher than those of the MOG daughters (p<0.001). Overall, the results showed that a mother's level of obesity was essentially related to her daughter's obesity index, psychological well-being index score, and nutrient intakes. Therefore, it seems necessary for mothers to maintain an ideal body weight to prevent obesity and diet related problems in their daughters.