Maternal BMI and migration status as predictors of childhood obesity in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of maternal migration to Baja California, body mass index (BMI) status, children's perceived food insecurity, and childhood lifestyle behaviors with overweight (BMI > 85% ile), obesity (BMI > 95% ile) and abdominal obesity (Waist Circumference > 90% ile). METHODS: Convenience sampling methods were used to recruit a cross-sectional sample of 4th, 5th and 6th grade children and their parents at Tijuana and Tecate Public Schools. Children's and parents' weights and heights were measured. Children were considered to have migrant parents if parents were not born in Baja California. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-two children and their parents were recruited. The mean age of the children was 10.1 ± 1.0 years. Forty nine per cent of children were overweight or obese. Children with obese parents (BMI > 30) had greater odds of being obese, Odds Ratio (OR) 4.9 (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.2-19, p = 0.03). Children with migrant parents had greater odds of being obese, OR= 3.7 (95% CI, 1.6-8.3), p = 0.01) and of having abdominal obesity, OR = 3.2 (95% CI, 1.4-7.1, p = 0.01). Children from migrant parents have greater risk of higher consumption of potato chips, OR = 8.0 (95% CI, 2.1-29.1, p = 0.01). Children from non-migrant parents had greater odds of being at risk of hunger. CONCLUSIONS: Parental obesity and migration are associated with increased risk of obesity among Mexican children. Children whose parents were born in Baja California have greater odds of being at risk of hunger. Further studies should evaluate the role of migration on risk for childhood obesity.

Maternal BMI and migration status as predictors of childhood obesity in Mexico / IMC materno y migración como predictor de obesidad infantil de México

Objective: To assess the association of maternal migration to Baja California, body mass index (BMI) status, children's perceived food insecurity, and childhood lifestyle behaviors with overweight (BMI > 85% ile), obesity (BMI > 95% ile) and abdominal obesity (Waist Circumference > 90% ile). Methods: Convenience sampling methods were used to recruit a cross-sectional sample of 4th, 5th and 6th grade children and their parents at Tijuana and Tecate Public Schools. Children's and parents' weights and heights were measured. Children were considered to have migrant parents if parents were not born in Baja California. Results: One hundred and twenty-two children and their parents were recruited. The mean age of the children was 10.1 ± 1.0 years. Forty nine per cent of children were overweight or obese. Children with obese parents (BMI > 30) had greater odds of being obese, Odds Ratio (OR) 4.9 (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.2-19, p = 0.03). Children with migrant parents had greater odds of being obese, OR= 3.7 (95% CI, 1.6-8.3), p = 0.01) and of having abdominal obesity, OR = 3.2 (95% CI, 1.4-7.1, p = 0.01). Children from migrant parents have greater risk of higher consumption of potato chips, OR = 8.0 (95% CI, 2.1 -29.1, p = 0.01). Children from non-migrant parents had greater odds of being at risk of hunger. Conclusions: Parental obesity and migration are associated with increased risk of obesity among Mexican children. Children whose parents were born in Baja California have greater odds of being at risk of hunger. Further studies should evaluate the role of migration on risk for childhood obesity (AU)

Objetivo: Determinar la asociación entre la inmigración materna a Baja California, el índice de masa corporal (IMC), la percepción de inseguridad alimentaria de los niños, y los estilos de vida y el sobrepeso, (BMI > 85% ila), la obesidad (BMI > 95% ila) y la obesidad abdominal (Circunferencia de Cintura > 90% ila). Métodos: Se realizó una muestra por conveniencia, en la que se reclutaron niños de 4.o a 6.o grado de primaria y a sus padres, de escuelas públicas de Tijuana y Tecate. Se midió el peso y la estatura de los niños. Los padres que no nacieron en el estado de Baja California se consideraron inmigrantes. Resultados: Fueron reclutados 122 pares de padres y niños. La edad media de los niños fue de 10,1 ± 1,0 años. Cuarenta y nueve por ciento de los niños presentaron sobrepeso u obesidad. Los niños con padres obesos (BMI > 30) presentaron mayor riesgo de obesidad, Razón de Momios (RM) 4,9 (95% Intervalo de confianza (IC) 1,219, p = 0,03). Los niños con padres inmigrantes presentaron mayor riesgo de tener obesidad, RM = 3,7 (95% IC, 1,6-8,3, p = 0,01) y obesidad abdominal, RM = 3,2 (95% IC, 1,4-7,1, p = 0,01). Los niños con padres inmigrantes presentaron mayor riesgo de consumo de patatas fritas, RM = 8,0 (95% CI, 2,1-29,1, p = 0,01). Los niños de padres no inmigrantes presentaron mayor riesgo de hambre. Conclusiones: La obesidad paterna y la inmigración estuvieron asociadas con el aumento de obesidad infantil. Los niños de padres nacidos en Baja California presentaron mayor riesgo de hambre. Se requieren más estudios que valoren el papel de la inmigración sobre el riesgo de obesidad (AU)

Perception of body size among Mexican teachers and parents.

Obesity in Mexico has reached epidemic proportions; and body image and body satisfaction might be culturally related. Body dissatisfaction has been related to low self-esteem. The aim of this study was to assess the range of perception among Mexican teachers and parents of the ideal body size of adults, boys and girls. Two-hundred and five teachers and eighty parents from Tijuana and Tecate schools participated in the study. Participants were asked to indicate the ideal body size for each group, as well as their own ideal body size. Average perception of ideal body weight for adults 35 to 45 years of age was 4.0 +/- 0.84. Average perception for boys and girls was 4.6. Positive correlations were shown between self-perception of body size and body mass index (0.62, P < 001), waist circumference (0.55, P < 0.001). Self-perception of body size was associated with perception of ideal body size for boys (0.23, P 0.001) and girls (0.22, P < 0.001), but BMI was not associated to perception of ideal body size for boys and girls. These results suggest that teachers and parents should be taught to more accurately assess excess weight status and to initiate action to prevent or correct excessive weight among children and adults.

Perception of body size among Mexican teachers and parents / Percepción del tamaño corporal en profesores y padres mexicanos

Obesity in Mexico has reached epidemic proportions; and body image and body satisfaction might be culturally related. Body dissatisfaction has been related to low self-esteem. The aim of this study was to assess the range of perception among Mexican teachers and parents of the ideal body size of adults, boys and girls. Two-hundred and five teachers and eighty parents from Tijuana and Tecate schools participated in the study. Participants were asked to indicate the ideal body size for each group, as well as their own ideal body size. Average perception of ideal body weight for adults 35 to 45 years of age was 4.0 ± 0.84. Average perception for boys and girls was 4.6. Positive correlations were shown between self-perception of body size and body mass index (0.62, P < 001), waist circumference (0.55, P < 0.001). Self-perception of body size was associated with perception of ideal body size for boys (0.23, P 0.001) and girls (0.22, P < 0.001), but BMI was not associated to perception of ideal body size for boys and girls. These results suggest that teachers and parents should be taught to more accurately assess excess weight status and to initiate action to prevent or correct excessive weight among children and adults

La obesidad en México ha alcanzado proporciones epidérmicas: la imagen corporal y la satisfacción con el cuerpo de uno mismo podrían tener un componente cultural. La insatisfacción con el cuerpo de uno mismo se ha relacionado con auto-estima baja. El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar, entre los profesores y padres mexicanos, el rango de percepción del tamaño corporal ideal de adultos, niños y niñas. Doscientos cinco profesores y ochenta padres de colegios de Tijuana y Tecate participaron en el estudio. Se pidió a los participantes que indicasen el tamaño corporal ideal para cada grupo, así como su propio tamaño corporal ideal. La percepción promedio del peso corporal ideal para adultos de entre 35 y 45 años de edad fue 4,0 ± 0,84. La percepción ideal para niños y niñas fue 4,6. Se observaron correlaciones positivas entre la auto-percepción del tamaño corporal y el índice de masa corporal (0,62, P < 0,001), y la circunferencia de la cintura (0,55, P < 0,001). La auto-percepción del tamaño corporal se asoció con la percepción del tamaño corporal ideal para los niños (0,23, P < 0,001) y las niñas (0,22, P < 0,001), pero el IMC no se asoció con la percepción del tamaño corporal ideal en niños y niñas. Esto sugiere que se debería enseñar a los profesores y padres a evaluar de una forma más precisa el estado de peso e iniciar una acción preventiva o corregir el exceso de peso en niños y adultos