The influence of migration background and parental education on childhood obesity and the metabolic syndrome

• Published in: Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 636 - 641
• Main Authors: Dannemann, A, Ernert, A, Rücker, P, Babitsch, B, Wiegand, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.05.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Comorbidity; Educational Status; Emigration and Immigration - statistics & numerical data; Germany - epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Obesity - epidemiology; Parents - education; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 1437-1588
• DOI: 10.1007/s00103-011-1258-5

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the influence of migration background and parental education on the degree of obesity and the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents (N=492) requiring sociopediatric care were investigated. Two regression models were computed with the dependent variables BMI-SDS and MS, respectively. Age, gender, migration background, and parental education were used as independent variables. When controlling for age and gender, higher BMI-SDS were found among Turkish patients (β=0.21; p=0.002) and patients with other migration backgrounds (β=0.11; p=0.085) compared to German patients. The BMI-SDS values were also higher among patients from families with a low parental education level compared to those with a higher education level (β=0.31; p<0.001). The key risk factor for MS is the BMI-SDS (OR: 8.9; p=0.011). No influence could be determined for migration background and parental education, when controlling for age, gender, and BMI-SDS. Obesity therapy should be increasingly tailored to the needs of identified risk groups. This will also allow for a targeted prevention of comorbidities.