title: Socio-economic, familial and perinatal factors associated with obesity in Sydney schoolchildren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations between socio-economic, familial and perinatal factors with overweight/obesity in 6- and 12-year-old schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible year-1 (1765/2238, mean age 6.7 years) and year-7 students (2353/3144, mean age, 12.7 years) from a random cluster sample of 55 Sydney schools were examined during 2003-2005. Height, weight and body mass index were measured. Overweight or obesity was classified using International Obesity Task Force cut points. Information about each child's socio-demographic status, familial and perinatal information was sought in parental questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After multivariate adjustment, lower parental education was significantly associated with prevalent overweight and obesity in 6-year-old children, odds ratio (OR) 1.52 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-2.01) and OR 2.16 (CI 1.34-4.13), respectively. Smoking during pregnancy was associated with a higher likelihood of being obese among both 6- and 12-year-old children, OR 1.90 (CI 1.05-3.46) and OR 1.78 (CI 1.22-2.61). Population attributable risk estimates indicate that 14.9% and 10.1% of prevalent cases of obesity in 12-year-old children may be attributable to being: an only child or a heavy newborn, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We show interdependent relationships between socio-economic, familial and perinatal factors and childhood weight status. Improved understanding of these pathways may help in developing childhood obesity prevention strategies.
authors: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Bamini
authors: B
authors: Gopinath
authors: Louise A
authors: LA
authors: Baur
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Burlutsky
authors: Dana
authors: D
authors: Robaei
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult