Lifestyle, dietetic habits and overweight and obesity prevalence in a pediatric population

Objectives: to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children, characteristics of their dietary habits, lifestyle and other associated determinants.

Material and method: design: cross-sectional study. Location: PrimaryHealthCenter, urban area. Participants: children > 6 and < 10 years of ABS El Carmel (Barcelona) (n = 716). Selection criteria: random sample (n = 340; prevalence: 15%; CI: 95%; accuracy: 3%) from the database SIAP (System for Information in Primary Care), no exclusion criteria were established. No answer: n = 63 (95%: address error; 5%: lack of interest).

Measurements: weight, height (for BMI), Quick Test and Short Test from Krece Plus (for diet and lifestyle). Descriptive and bivariate analysis: Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA test, correlation test and logistic regression.

Results: two hundred and seventy-six surveys (81.4%). Overweight prevalence: 11.59% (95% CI: 7.81%-15.32%); obesity prevalence: 10.14% (95% CI: 6.58%-13.7%). Food habits: 52.3% optimal feeding habits and 4.4% inadequate. Lifestyle: 58.7% bad lifestyle and 3.6% good lifestyle. The BMI mean was higher (p < 0.05) in inactive children, in low education level of mothers, or in born outside Spain. Overweight and obesity in children is 3.6 times higher (95% CI: 1.37-8.05) if the father is obese and 3.1 times higher (95% CI: 1.19-7.31) if the mother is obese.

Conclusions: the study provides a baseline for establishing the guidelines and activities of the community intervention program for preventing childhood obesity.