title: Implications of family socioeconomic level on risk behaviors in child-youth obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Socioeconomical status may indirectly affect the obesity prevalence. This study gathers together dietary behaviour, physical activity and sedentary lifestyle in relation to the family socioeconomic status in a sample of Spanish children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based cross-sectional study of 3-16 years children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires about dietary behaviors, physical activity and sedentary lifestyles, and direct anthropometric measures. Criteria of physical activity recommended was >5METs (metabolic equivalence) during 60 min/day, and sedentary lifestyle as 120 min/day of sedentary activities, using obesity criteria from the ENKID study. We derived a single "family socioeconomic level" indicator (FSEL) from the level of studies, professional category and work situation of both parents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1620 children were studied. 59.5% met the physical activity recommendations. Boys with the higher FSEL quartile tend to do more physical activity. In girls, physical activity increases with the age and degree of overweight. 57.7% of boys and 48.1% of girls were found to be sedentary, with a lower rate in families with higher FSEL. Higher FSEL quartile was related to healthy dietary habits such as having breakfast, 5 meals per day and less snacking. The FSEL was related also to the consumption of whole grains, dairy products and fruits, but not to vegetables, meat or fish. The greatest risk of excess weight was found in girls >6 years old, with a low FSEL, sedentary habits, that snack frequently and eat few proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family socioeconomic status seems to determine the level of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and dietary behavior. The elaboration of a simple socioeconomic indicator may be useful to study factors involved in child obesity.
authors: Medico de Familia. Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar (Cádiz).. amelia.rodriguez@uca.es.
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Villagran Pérez
authors: Area de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. Universidad de Cádiz..
authors: José Pedro
authors: JP
authors: Novalbos-Ruiz
authors: Area de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. Universidad de Cádiz..
authors: Amelia
authors: A
authors: Rodríguez-Martín
authors: Departamento de Enfermería. Facultad de Enfermería y Fisioterapia. Universidad de Cádiz..
authors: José Manuel
authors: JM
authors: Martínez-Nieto
authors: Departamento Maternoinfantil y Radiología. UCA. Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar (Cádiz)..
authors: Alfonso María
authors: AM
authors: Lechuga-Sancho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology