Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT411

Background: Childhood obesity and overweight have emerged as alarming public health issues, affecting an increasing number of children worldwide. With significant implications for both physical and mental well-being, these conditions are rapidly becoming a societal challenge. The factors driving this trend remain complex and multifaceted, with parental influence playing a pivotal role. This study aims to shed light on these key factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional case-control study was conducted in 2022 among children attending school health clinics in Tunis, Tunisia. It included children aged 5 to 15 years, excluding the conditions causing secondary obesity. Overweight was defined as an age-specific body mass index (BMI) > 1 standard deviation (SD) above the median of the WHO growth standards, while obesity was defined as a BMI > 2 SDs above the median. Parental obesity was defined as a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m². Patients were divided into two groups: G1 (overweight or obese children) and G2 (normal weight children). A 41-item questionnaire was administered to both children and their parents, addressing the risk factors for obesity.

Results: A total of 216 patients were included in the study, with 54 classified as overweight or obese (G1) and 162 having normal weight (G2). We did not find a significant association between overweight or obesity and age (P = 0.07), although it was observed that overweight and obese children were generally younger (7 years (6-12) in G1 vs. 11 years (6-12) in G2). The prevalence of overweight or obesity was higher in male children (34 (36.2%) in males vs. 20 (22.2%) in females, P = 0.038). There was no significant association between the fathers’ educational level and the presence of obesity or overweight in children (P = 0.325). Similarly, no significant link was found between the mothers’ educational level and childhood obesity or overweight (P = 0.800). The mother’s employment status did not significantly correlate with the presence of obesity or overweight in the children (P = 0.500), though a lower prevalence of obesity and overweight was noted among working mothers. Parental obesity was not statistically associated with childhood obesity or overweight (P = 0.800), and a family history of obesity or Type 2 diabetes also showed no significant correlation with these conditions in children (P = 0.450).

Conclusion: Addressing the root causes of obesity and overweight in childhood, particularly through understanding and addressing parental influence, is critical to reversing this growing epidemic.