Direct and the Indirect Determinants of Weight-Control Behaviours among Adolescents

Abstract

Background Economic determinants such as socioeconomic inequalities and parents’ employment have a profound impact on the health of adolescents in terms of unhealthy weight-control behaviours (UWCB). In addition, various family factors may play a role in adolescents’ weight-control behaviours (WCB). This study examines the association among socioeconomic status, perceived family wealth, and number of employed parents and Israeli adolescents’ WCB and asks whether family variables (parental communication, monitoring, support, and family meals) mediate WCB. Methods Data from the cross-sectional questionnaire of the 2014 Israeli Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study are analysed using structural equation modelling. The research population includes approximately 7,000 Israeli schoolchildren in grades 6, 8, and 10. The association among socioeconomic status (SES) factors (SES measures, parental employment), sociodemographic factors, and weight-control behaviours among adolescents is calculated. Results High family affluence and high perceived family wealth are negatively associated with unhealthy weight-control behaviour. Having two employed parents leads to lower levels of UWCB. Family-related variables like family communication and support and parental monitoring are found to mitigate unhealthy weight-control behaviours. Family meals have a significantly positive effect on healthy weight-control behaviour and a significantly negative impact on unhealthy weight-control activities. Conclusions The findings suggest that economic factors such as SES and number of employed parents are necessary strategies for long-term weight-control practice. The combination of WCB and family meals is the most effective method for adolescents’ healthy weight-control behaviour. Key messages The study highlights the importance of considering the quality of family communication and support as a health asset that may contribute to WCB among young people. Family affluence and perceived family wealth, which were two separate measurements, were perceived differently by adolescents.

Identifying Cardiovascular Risk Profiles Clusters among Mediterranean Adolescents across Seven Countries

“…Much change can be initiated through lifestyle interventions although some prescriptions are available for adolescents to use [ 49 ]. Adolescent smoking is common among Mediterranean countries, and in both the medium- and high-risk groups, there were regular smokers (International Report), suggesting further work is needed to establish ways to reduce this risk [ 22 , 29 ]. The high-risk group consists of regular smoking, drinking, and physical inactivity, suggesting a set of concomitant behaviors that is multifactorial, mimicking the possibilities for adulthood behavior.…”

“…While behaviors implemented during one’s developmental years tend to continue into maturity [ 17 , 18 ], clustering these risk factors among adolescents may hasten atherogenesis [ 19 , 20 ]. A recent study demonstrated that poor diet factors, such as low fruit intake, were present in more than half of the adolescent population studied [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Moreover, risk factors tend to appear together [ 17 , 22 , 24 ].…”

“…A recent study demonstrated that poor diet factors, such as low fruit intake, were present in more than half of the adolescent population studied [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Moreover, risk factors tend to appear together [ 17 , 22 , 24 ]. Therefore, there is a need to estimate risk behaviors (physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and overweight/obesity) of CVD and examine their clustering patterns among adolescents in various countries.…”