Associations between socioeconomic status and overweight among urban children aged 7-12 years in Chengdu, southwest China

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Author : Junya Zhai, Hongmei Xue, Jiao Luo, Lishi Zhang, Guo Cheng
Keyword : children, overweight, obesity, socioeconomic status, China
DOI : 10.6133/apjcn.022017.12
Issue : Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2018;27(3):617-623
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Abstract

Background and Objectives: Income inequality in China has risen steadily over the past decades. This study explored the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and overweight among urban children aged 7-12 years in Chengdu, a comparatively prosperous metropolis city located in “the West China”, the backward, less developed region of China. Methods and Study Design: A population-based cross-sectional study was conduct- ed in 2013 among urban children aged 7-12 years old in Chengdu city. A total of 853 urban students were in- volved in this analysis, with measured heights, weights, and filled in self-administered questionnaires. Over- weight, including obesity, was defined according to the Working Group on Obesity in China. SES indicators in- cluded family income, parental education and occupation class. Results: Urban girls living in high-income households were more likely to be overweight than those living in low-income households (OR 2.19, 95% confi- dence interval, 1.02-4.83). However, no significant associations were found among boys and there were also null significant associations between other SES indicators and overweight in children of either sex. Conclusions: Ur- ban girls living in relatively affluent circumstances were at greatest risk for being overweight. This study implies that any future overweight prevention program in Chengdu city is needed to start at the family level beginning with individuals of a high socioeconomic background, especially in urban girls.

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