A cross-sectional survey of the relationship between eating habits and childhood obesity:based on a cohort study of school children in Minhang District of Shanghai / 复旦学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship between eating habits and childhood obesity by the method of cross-sectional survey in order to provide scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of childhood obesity.Methods We enrolled first-year students in Minhang District of Shanghai who participated in physical examination in 2014.Information was obtained from standardized face to face interviews of their parents or guardians with detailed questions on demographic characteristics,dietary habit,food preference,physical activity,sleep time and so on.Odds ratio (OR) and 95％ CI were calculated by unconditional Logistic regression models.Results Finally,5 752 students were enrolled in the study.The rate of obesity was 15.16％ (boys18.35％;girls11.83％) and the rate of over weight was 14.31％ (boys.15.15％;girls13.43％).Meat-based diet (OR=1.58,95％ CI1.32-1.91),skipping breakfast (OR =1.87,95％ CI1.01-3.46),eating too much caffeine-containing food (OR =1.66,95％ CI1.09-2.51) and eating fast (OR3.32-14.95) were associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity.Plant-based diet (OR =0.51,95％ CI0.35-0.74) and choosy in food (OR0.38-0.64) were associated with a decreased risk of childhood obesity.Besides,we found that children who preferred meat (OR =2.11,95％CI1.42-3.14) and cured food (OR =1.42,95％ CI1.05-1.92) had a higher risk of obesity.Conclusions Our results support the association between eating habits and childhood obesity.