title: Sociodemographic, ethnic and dietary factors associated with childhood obesity in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate sociodemographic, ethnic and dietary factors associated with the development of childhood obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  276 children, aged 8-12 years, randomly selected from seven schools in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, participated in the study. 13% of the children were immigrants from neighboring Balkan countries and ex-Soviet Union countries. Data was collected using specific validated questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements, dietary intake and physical activity assessment were carried out for all children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  26.1% of the boys and 22.4% of the girls were overweight and a further 11.6% of boys and 10.9% of girls were obese. The overweight and obesity rate was significantly lower in immigrants (10% and 3.3%) compared to Greeks (25.8% and 12.7%), p=0.024. Obese children compared to their non-obese counterparts a) had parents who were obese at a higher percentage (p=0.001), b) reported that food preparation was carried out by their grandmother (p=0.006) and c) had less pocket money (p=0.004). Daily energy and carbohydrate intakes were significantly higher in immigrants compared to Greeks (1611+/-599Kcal vs 1363+/-471Kcal, p=0.036 and 188.31+/-70.63g vs 149.87+/-56.41g, p=0.001) and the same was true for exercise (6.38+/-7.22 h/w vs 4.14+/-4.18 h/w, p=0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In planning interventions for childhood obesity, sociodemographic factors in addition to food intake and physical activity patterns have to be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Technological Educational Institution of Thessaloniki, Greece. mnhas@nutr.teithe.gr
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassapidou
authors.forename: Sousana K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frossinis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaklamanos
authors.forename: Themistoklis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tzotzas
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates