Risk factors associated with childhood obesity in Wales: a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Welsh Health Survey. (November 2016) - Beynon, Claire
Abstract: Background: Prevalence of childhood obesity in Wales is approximately 12%. Obesity has a considerable cost to the National Health Service, economy, and society, and it impacts on both quality of life and life expectancy. In childhood, obesity is associated with low self-esteem, bullying, and depression. The aim of this study was to determine important risk factors associated with childhood obesity in Wales using cross-sectional data from the Welsh Health Survey, which is based on a sample of the general population living in private households. Methods: The analysis used survey data (2008–12) of 11 279 children aged 4–15 years. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to explore associations of variables with childhood obesity. Lifestyle variables included unhealthy food, sugar-sweetened beverages, physical activity levels, and currently treated illnesses. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors included sex, age, quintiles of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD); parents' employment type, and housing tenure. Children were defined as obese on the basis of body-mass index reference curves for the UK, 1990 (95th quintile). Findings: 1582 children (14%) were classified as obese. Childhood obesity was significantly associated with mid quintiles of the WIMD (odds ratio 1·23, 95% CI 1·01–1·50; p=0·04), high WIMD quintiles (1·33, 1·09–1·63; p=0·005), having one currently treated illness (1·20, 1·05–1·38; p=0·008), having two or more illnesses (1·50, 1·22–1·85; p<0·001), and not meeting recommendations for physical activity (1·33, 1·17–1·52; p<0·001). Interpretation: The results from this study were similar to those found in the literature, with both physical activity and illness being particularly important risk factors for childhood obesity. This study confirms research in the UK showing that childhood obesity increases with levels of deprivation. The public health recommendations from this study are that every child should meet physical activity guidelines, and that any child with illness should receive a holistic care plan to prevent or manage obesity. Funding: None.