Determinants of Childhood Obesity in Germany
Author Information
Author(s): Christina Kleiser, Rosario Angelika Schaffrath, Gert BM Mensink, Reinhild Prinz-Langenohl, Bärbel-Maria Kurth
Primary Institution: Robert Koch Institute
Hypothesis
What are the potential determinants of obesity among children and adolescents in Germany?
Conclusion
Parental overweight and low socio-economic status are major determinants of obesity in children and adolescents.
Supporting Evidence
- 15% of children aged 3 to 17 in Germany are overweight or obese.
- Parental overweight increases the risk of obesity in children significantly.
- Low socio-economic status is associated with higher rates of obesity.
Takeaway
Kids can become overweight if their parents are overweight or if they come from families with less money. It's important to help these families to keep kids healthy.
Methodology
Data were collected from the KiGGS study, which included health behavior and status assessments of children aged 3 to 17 years in Germany.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data from parents may introduce bias in reporting weight and health behaviors.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, which limits causal inferences, and some potential risk factors were not included due to data availability.
Participant Demographics
Children and adolescents aged 3 to 17 years, with a focus on socio-economic status and parental health behaviors.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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