Onset of Obesity in Children through the Recall of Parents: Relationship to Parental Obesity and Life Events

• Published in: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 63 - 68
• Main Authors: Franzese, A., Valerio, G., Argenziano, A., Esposito-Del Puente, A., Iannucci, M.P., Caputo, G., Alfonsi, L., Contaldo, F., Rubino, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 1998
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age of Onset; Child; Child, Preschool; Environmental Health; Family Health; Female; Humans; Infant; Life Style; Male; Obesity - etiology; Obesity - genetics; Parents
• ISSN: 0334-018X; 2191-0251
• DOI: 10.1515/JPEM.1998.11.1.63

Obesity is a multifactorial disease due to the influence of both genetic and environmental factors. Parents of 886 obese patients (427 boys and 459 girls, aged 1-18 years) were investigated by means of a questionnaire in order to study the factors associated with the onset of obesity in children and the relationship to genetic background. At presentation obese patients had a very high mean ideal body weight percent (IBW%) (154 +/- 19%, median 152%, range 120-246). A significantly higher mean IBW% was found in children of obese parents (one obese parent: 158 +/- 21%, median 156%, range 120-246; two obese parents 160 +/- 18%, median 158%, range 123-226) in comparison to children of normal weight parents (150 +/- 18%; median 147%, range 120-235; p = 0.0001 for children of one or two obese parents versus children of normal weight parents). Parents of 414 subjects (46.7%) (Group A) answered that obesity had always been present. The remaining 472 parents (53.3%) (Group B) stated that obesity had had a beginning at a mean age of 5.3 +/- 2.6 years (median 5.0 years, range 1.0-17.0). No difference was found in age at presentation, sex distribution, birth weight and number of obese parents between the two groups. Parents in Group B recalled an event associated with obesity onset in 197 cases (health event: 119 answers, psycho-social event: 78 answers). Genetic background did not influence this pattern of feedback. In conclusion, parents of obese subjects seek medical advice when obesity is severe. Pediatricians should exert strict surveillance on weight from a very young age. The recall in 22% patients of health or psychosocial events at the onset of obesity emphasizes that medical counselling is important when the occurrence of particular events in life may cause erroneous eating habits.