Associação de aspectos comportamentais e sociodemográficos à obesidade infantil

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood obesity is considered one of the biggest public health problems in the world, which can be caused by several factors, of behavioral or sociodemographic origin. Objective: To associate childhood obesity with each potential influencing factor of this condition, of a behavioral and/or sociodemographic nature. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 170 children (9 and 10 years old) from public and private schools in two cities in the interior of Paraná. Anthropometry and BMI calculation were performed, as well as a questionnaire regarding sleeping habits, eating habits, place of residence, type of housing, parents' educational level, screen time, level of physical activity and sedentary behavior. Of these, 48 children had their physical activity (PA) level measured using the ActiGraph® accelerometer, model wGT3x-BT, for 5 days (3 on the week and 2 on the weekend). Statistical Analysis: To describe the data, means±standard deviation were used. Spearman correlation and Chi-square test, comparison analyzes using Student's t-test of independent samples and associations using linear and logistic regression, with p=5%. Results: The sample characterized as eutrophic in 55.9% and 44.1% as overweight/obese, presents a high rate of sedentary behavior. Through accelerometry, it was noticed that girls present greater intensity in this behavior than boys (t= 3.434; p=0.01) who, in turn, present greater intensity in moderate PA (t=-2.193; p=0. 03) and vigorous (t=-3.634; p= 0.01) than girls. In the correlation analyses, the inverse association between CS and PA levels stands out, classified as mild PA (r=-0.691, p=0.00), moderate PA (r=-0.824, p=0.00) and PA vigorous (r=-564, p=0.00), the association also occurring as a function of sex, highlighting the greater relationship between time spent in CS versus time spent in MVPA in girls (r=-783, p=0. 00) than in boys (r=-0.563, p=0.01). Likewise, the level of PA outside school was associated with time in MVPA (r=0.519, p=0.00), and negatively with SB (r=-471, p=0.00). During the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, the PA level of mothers whose children are classified as overweight/obese decreased by 23%, and remained the same in mothers of children classified as eutrophic (28.1%), with p=0.04 , also associated with the children's BMI in this period (Exp(B)=0.536, p=0.027). When compared to PA levels before the pandemic period, children spent more time on CS (t=-2.323, p=0.25), less time on PA outside of school (t=3.434, p=0.00), and more screen time during the week (t=-2.257, p=0.025). In sociodemographic aspects, there was only a relationship between the father's education level and the children's weight classification (Exp(B)=0.971, p=0.024). Discussion: Behavioral habits are built in childhood under the strong influence of parents' habits, encouraging physical activity, reducing time in sedentary behavior, adequate hours of sleep, which guarantee healthy child development and a reduction in the risk of diseases chronic diseases, such as obesity. Intervention programs to prevent childhood obesity should involve, in addition to increasing the practice of PA, usually recommended, also reducing exposure to CS, emphasizing the importance of these habits being adhered to by parents. Conclusion: Considering the objectives of this study, we can highlight the high level of sedentary behavior, associated with family behavioral habits and the father's level of education.