Benchaporn Sukprasert. Ecological factors influencing overweight status among primary school children in Bangkok : a case-control study. Doctoral Degree(Nursing). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2017.
Ecological factors influencing overweight status among primary school children in Bangkok : a case-control study
Abstract:
Childhood overweight and obesity are a major public health problem in Thailand and Bangkok has the most prevalence. This case-control study aimed to identify the ecological factors associated with overweight status among primary school children in the 4th-6th grade. Study participants included 510 children and 52 class teachers in 4 public and 2 private primary schools. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire with all participants, descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data. Univariate analysis showed that several factors (positively) significantly associated with overweight status among the children, these included; boys, perceived self-body image larger than average/large, daily school pocket money ≥ 50 baht, cognitive eating behaviors with routine restraint and compensatory restraint, paternal and maternal body image overweight and obesity. Parenting practices with autonomy support was (negatively) significantly associated with overweight status among the children (p<0.05). In a multivariate model, the male factor (being a boy) (aOR 3.13; 1.80-5.44) and perceived self-body image larger than average/large (aOR 45.74; 17.91-116.83) had higher risk of overweight status (p<0.05). Meanwhile, parenting practices with high coercive control (aOR 0.23; 0.09-0.62) and moderate/high autonomy support (aOR 0.44; 0.19-0.99 and aOR 0.28; 0.11-0.71, respectively) proved to be a protector factor against overweight status (p<0.05). All the four factors could explain 58% of the variance in overweight status among primary school children. These findings indicate that individual and family environmental factors were the best predictors for overweight status among the children and therefore, the health care system should develop effective and comprehensive strategies that promote healthy behaviors to control weight among primary school children taking into consideration the difference in gender, social and home environments