[Family environment of children with simple obesity].
Fifty obese children aged from 6 to 15 years and 50 non-obese controls paired on the basis of age and sex were evaluated by anthropometric measurements and a parents' questionnaire. Birth weight was comparable in obese and non-obese children. The majority (78%) of the cases in the study group were becoming obese during the age among 2 and 12 years. It was found that obese children were about five times as likely to have an obese parent as controls: 44% of the obese children had obese fathers and 12% had obese mothers. There also a significant difference in the chance of having an obese sibling between the obese and control groups. However, the difference of socioeconomic status between the two groups did not reach level of significance. The results indicated that there are likely to be more obese family members at home for every obese case identified in a weight control clinic. Identification, prevention, and control of childhood obesity in at-risk families are an important pediatric issue. Further research efforts are needed to unravel the multiple factors associated with childhood obesity.
Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Municipal Chung-Hsiao Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
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D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012885:Skinfold Thickness