Abstract
To identify factors associated with obesity in schoolchildren, we performed a physical examination and a questionnaire concerning heredity, exercise, eating habits, and stress on 248 children in the fourth grade of 3 primary schools in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Prevalence of overweight (≥+20% of standard weight) in children was higher when both of their parents were obese (BMI≥25) than when only one parent was obese. In boys. prevalence of overweight was lowest when both parents were not obese.
Overweight compared with non-overweight children had higher levels of total cholesterol and blood pressure, did not like physical exercise nor exercise regularly, felt much stress, tended to eat up everything served for school lunch, and were often advised not to overeat by their parents. However, overweight children did not have snacks as often as non-overweight ones. To determine the associations of these lifestyle-related factors with obesity in schoolchildren, multiple analysis was conducted using quantification method II; the following factors were found positively related with obesity: “Advised by parents not to overeat, ”“can not concentrate well” (both boys and girls), “feel lonesome” (boys), “feel like getting angry at anybody.”“eat up everything served for school lunch” (girls), Children who were non-overweight and advised not to overeat often practiced eating habits which cause obesity such as“eat after supper” (boys), “eat without chewing well, ”“eat until stomach filled” (girls) ; however, in spite of these eating attitudes, they still remained non-overweight.
