The association of parental obesity with physical activity and sedentary behaviors of their children: the CASPIAN-V study / Associação da obesidade parental a atividade física e comportamentos sedentários deseus filhos: o estudo CASPIAN-V

Abstract Objective: Low physical activity and sedentary behaviors, two important determinants of childhood obesity, may be influenced by parental lifestyle and weight status. This study aims to determine the association of parental weight status with children's physical activity and screen time. Methods: This study was conducted on 14,440 Iranian schools students, aged 7-18 years, and one of their parents, who participated in the large national school-based surveillance program. The children's screen-based and physical activities were evaluated based on the World Health Organization's Global School Student Health Survey. Children and parental height, weight, and waist circumference were measured using standardized methods. Results: Overall, 14,274 students and one of their parents completed the survey (participation rate: 99%). Mean (standard deviation) age of students was 12.3 (3.2) years, and the prevalence of low physical activity and high screen time was 58.2% and 17.7%, respectively. In multivariate model, the parental general obesity and abdominal obesity increased the odds of children having low physical activity, by 21% and 13%, respectively. Parental overweight, general obesity, and abdominal obesity increased the odds of the combination of low physical activity/high screen time in children by 33%, 26%, and 20%, respectively. Conclusions: This study showed that parental obesity was associated with increased screen-based activities and low physical activity in children. Focus on parental weight status, as an important factor influenced by their lifestyle, can be helpful for preventing sedentary behaviors in their children.

Resumo Objetivo: A baixa atividade física e comportamentos sedentários, dois importantes fatores determinantes de obesidade infantil, podem ser influenciados pelo estilo de vida e o status do peso dos pais. Este estudo visa a determinar a associação do status do peso dos pais no nível de atividade física e ao tempo de tela das crianças. Métodos: Este estudo foi feito em 14.440 estudantes de escolas iranianas, com idades entre 7-18 anos e um de seus pais inscritos no grande programa nacional de vigilância escolar. As atividades físicas e em tela das crianças foram avaliadas com base no questionário da Pesquisa Global de Saúde do Escolar da Organização Mundial de Saúde. A estatura, o peso e a circunferência da cintura das crianças e dos pais foram medidos com métodos padronizados. Resultados: De modo geral, 14.274 estudantes e um de seus pais concluíram a pesquisa (taxa de participação: 99%). A idade média (desvio padrão) dos estudantes foi 12,3 (3,2) anos e a prevalência de baixa atividade física e alto tempo de tela foi de 58,2% e 17,7%, respectivamente. Em um modelo multivariado, a obesidade geral dos pais e a obesidade abdominal aumentaram as chances de as crianças com baixo nível de atividade física em 21% e 13%, respectivamente. Sobrepeso dos pais, obesidade geral e obesidade abdominal aumentaram as chances de combinação de baixo nível de atividade física/alto tempo de tela nas crianças em 33%, 26% e 20%, respectivamente. Conclusões: Este estudo mostrou que a obesidade dos pais foi associada ao aumento nas atividades de tela e ao baixo nível de atividade física nas crianças. O foco no status do peso dos pais, como um importante fator influenciado por seu estilo de vida, pode ser útil na prevenção de comportamentos sedentários em seus filhos.

Parental Obesity and Serum Leptin Levels among North Indian Obese Adults.

Background And Objectives: Obesity is increasing worldwide as an epidemic. Recent advances in biology of adipose tissue have revealed that adipose tissue in addition to its role as an energy reservoir, modulates energy metabolism via secretion of circulating adipocytokines. Leptin is one such adipocytokine which is essential for body weight homeostasis. There exists complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors in obesity. Various studies have shown genetic influence of parental fatness in childhood obesity but the effect of parental obesity in adult obesity as well as leptin level is not clear, therefore present study was aimed to determine whether parental obesity might contribute to adult obesity as well as serum leptin levels in obese adults. Material and Methods: Study consisted of forty five obese adults with Body Mass Index≥27 and control group included forty five lean adults with Body Mass Index≤22. Information regarding parental obesity was obtained from each participant in a prestructured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from both groups and serum leptin levels were measured by Radioimmunoassay. Results: About 62 percent of case group was found to have parental history of obesity. In contrast 29 percent subjects in control group had obese parents. Moreover, the mean of serum leptin levels in obese adults with history of obese parents was significantly higher than obese adults without the history of obese parents (males:19.26±2.69 vs 15.75±2.19,p=0.04 and females: 37.0±7.55 vs26.86±3.72,p =0.02). Conclusion: Parental obesity plays an important role in obesity and serum leptin level during adulthood.

Influence of parental obesity on school children.

Objective. To find out the association between parental obesity and Childhood obesity. Methods. Children in middle schools were screened for obesity. For each obese child two controls were studied. Results. Parental history of obesity was present for 32.7% of obese children. Children with parental history of obesity showed 25.2 times more chances of developing obesity than controls. 33.8% of the obese girls and 31.6% of the obese boys had history of parental obesity. If the father was obese, boys had 6.5 times more chance and girls had 40.1 times more chance of developing obesity. Mother’s obesity had an influence on 23.7 % of the boys and only 16 % of the girls. Conclusion. The childhood obesity has been influenced by genetic factors in the present study and it also shows that maternal obesity mainly passes to boys and paternal obesity to girls.

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

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.