Gendered dimensions of obesity in childhood and adolescence

Sweeting, Helen

doi:10.1186/1475-2891-7-1

Cited by 220 publications

(216 citation statements)

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“…[2][3][4] Possible reasons for gender differences could be lower physical activity levels in girls, [24] and biological and sociocultural differences. [25] …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity in 7 - 10-year-old children in urban primary schools in Port Elizabeth

McKersie

Baard

2014

SA J Sports Med

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Objective. The primary aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of overweight and obesity among urban 7 -10-year-old children in affluent (quintile 5) English-medium primary schools in Port Elizabeth. Method. A quantitative, descriptive one-way cross-sectional research design utilising random sampling was used. A once-off survey consisted of anthropometrical assessment of body mass index (BMI) according to standardised procedures. To classify children into weight categories, the International Obesity Task Force z-score BMI cut-off criteria were used. Post-hoc analysis consisted of one-way analysis of variance and χ 2 tests. Level of significance was set at p<0.05. A total of 713 children participated in the study. Results. Overweight prevalence was 20.9% (n=149) and obesity prevalence was 9.8% (n=70). A significant interaction was found for overweight and obesity levels by gender and age (F=7.2, p=0.01). Of the boys (N=372) 18.5% (n=69) were overweight and 6.9% (n=26) were obese. The girls (N=341) had a 23.5% (n=80) overweight rate and 12,9% (n=44) were obese. The highest prevalence of overweight (24.7%, n=43, N=174) was found in children aged 10, and the highest prevalence of obesity (12.5%, n=21, N=167) was found in children aged 8. Conclusion.Results highlighted the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity among urban children from economically privileged settings. Future research into paediatric obesity is needed to curb the growing incidence.S Afr J SM 2014;26(2):55-58.

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“…[2][3][4] Possible reasons for gender differences could be lower physical activity levels in girls, [24] and biological and sociocultural differences. [25] …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity in 7 - 10-year-old children in urban primary schools in Port Elizabeth

McKersie

Baard

2014

SA J Sports Med

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“…This is in agreement with earlier studies carried out in South Africa, Israel and the United Kingdom. [20][21][22] South African women, especially in black populations, think that being overweight is "beautiful and attractive". Hence, the majority of overweight black women view themselves as being of normal weight, healthy or very healthy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity and health problems among South African healthcare workers: do healthcare workers take care of themselves?

Skaal

Pengpid

2011

South African Family Practice

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Background: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally. In South Africa, 56% of white men, 49% of black men and 75% of black women have been reported to be overweight or obese. The focus of this study is on South African healthcare workers (HCW), because they are considered role models for health for patients and their communities. Objectives:The objective was to determine the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related health problems among HCW and to compare these variables between medical and nonmedical staff at one selected public hospital in South Africa.Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 200 respondents from a balanced pool of randomly selected HCW (100 medical staff and 100 nonmedical staff). Self-reported body mass index (BMI), obesity-related health problems and perceptions about body weight were assessed.Results: Seventy-three per cent of the HCW were overweight or obese, and half of them had never tried to lose weight. Females and older HCW were more obese than men and younger counterparts. There was no difference in BMI distribution between medical and nonmedical staff. About one-third of HCW reported that they suffered from obesity-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs; hypertension 20% and diabetes 10%) and stress (32.5%). The majority of HCW had an inaccurate perception of their own weight.Conclusion: South African HCW have a high prevalence of obesity-related NCDs. A health promotion programme targeting HCW is urgently needed to encourage weight control, urge the prevention of obesity-related NCDs and change selfperceptions of body weight, in order to improve their own health and make them better role models for the general public.Peer reviewed.

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“…Some biological differences include body composition and growth patterns, with clear sex differences in the distribution of adiposity beginning as early as the neonatal period and continuing through adulthood (125). Energy requirements and the aptitude for specific physical activities exhibit sex differences, while specific gender differences include how boys and girls interact with their family and their food environment as well as their overall physical activity levels (126). There are also gender differences in metabolic responses to stress (87) and family disruption or conflict (127).…”

Section: Psychosocial Vulnerabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological, environmental, and social influences on childhood obesity

2015

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The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased globally over the past three decades, with evidence of recent leveling off in developed countries. Reduction in the, currently high, prevalence of obesity will require a full understanding of the biological and social pathways to obesity in order to develop appropriately targeted prevention strategies in early life. Determinants of childhood obesity include individual level factors, including biological, social, and behavioral risks, acting within the influence of the child's family environment, which is, in turn, imbedded in the context of the community environment. These influences act across childhood, with suggestions of early critical periods of biological and behavioral plasticity. There is evidence of sex and gender differences in the responses of boys and girls to their environments. The evidence that determinants of childhood obesity act at many levels and at different stages of childhood is of policy relevance to those planning early health promotion and primary prevention programs as it suggests the need to address the individual, the family, the physical environment, the social environment, and social policy. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize current, and emerging, literature in a multilevel, life course framework. INTRODUCTIONThe prevalence of childhood obesity has increased globally over the past three decades, with more rapid increases recently occurring in low-income countries (1). In the United States, more than 30% of children are now overweight or obese (1), with evidence that the prevalence has leveled off (2). Children and adolescents are exhibiting obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, elevated blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and higher fasting insulin levels (3-6). In addition, childhood obesity predicts adulthood obesity and its known health consequences (7,8). Treatment of obesity is notoriously difficult, with weight loss rarely sustained in adults (9). Therapeutic interventions in childhood are somewhat more successful, particularly if the intervention occurs prior to onset of puberty (10). However, real and sustained progress in combating the obesity epidemic will require a full understanding of the biological and social pathways to obesity in order to develop appropriately targeted prevention strategies in early life.Pathways to childhood obesity are complex. It is therefore helpful to discuss determinants of obesity within a conceptual framework. A multilevel conceptual model, Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Systems Theory (11), has previously been applied to the conceptualization of childhood obesity by Davison and Birch (12). This framework depicts individual-level factors, including biological, social, and behavioral risks, as acting within the influence of the child's family environment, which is, in turn imbedded in the context of the community environment. It is also helpful to consider critical periods for obesity risk and, as will be further illustrated in a later section,...

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Gendered dimensions of obesity in childhood and adolescence

Abstract: Background: The literature on childhood and adolescent obesity is vast. In addition to producing a general overview, this paper aims to highlight gender differences or similarities, an area which has tended not to be the principal focus of this literature.

Cited by 220 publications

References 171 publications

Obesity in 7 - 10-year-old children in urban primary schools in Port Elizabeth

Obesity in 7 - 10-year-old children in urban primary schools in Port Elizabeth

Obesity and health problems among South African healthcare workers: do healthcare workers take care of themselves?

Biological, environmental, and social influences on childhood obesity

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