Social vulnerability as a predictor of physical activity and screen time in European children

Abstract

Migrants and children with unemployed parents are at risk for excessive ST and all vulnerable groups have lower odds of being sports club members.

Prospective associations between socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and metabolic syndrome risk in European children. Results from the IDEFICS study

“…Nevertheless, consistent with our results, one study in adults found the OR for MetS was two times higher in those unemployed compared to employed subjects [39]. Unemployment entails anxiety, distress, depression and a decrease in activity in adults [38] that might be felt by children and may worsen their lifestyle factors and mental health and subsequently their MetS risk [12][13][14].…”

“…Another possible explanation on how socioeconomic disadvantages may increase the risk of MetS is its association with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours including overeating, consumption of energy-dense foods, higher sedentary behaviours and lower levels of PA [11][12][13].…”

“…A low social network of parents has been found to be negatively related to different obesity-related lifestyles in children [12][13][14]. Children of parents with low social networks were more likely to show an eating pattern characterized by a high consumption of snacks and fast food, lower levels of PA, higher levels of ST and more psychosocial problems than children whose parents reported to have a stronger social network.…”

“…Some studies have focused on the impact that migrant status or some ethnicities could have on the risk of MetS, showing a higher prevalence of MetS in migrants than in natives [37]. Children with a migrant background may be at a higher risk of MetS as they have low-quality diets, higher levels of ST, more psychosocial problems and higher levels of obesity than native peers [11][12][13][14]. Despite previous findings, our results did not suggest an increased risk of MetS in migrant children.…”

“…Socioeconomic disadvantages are defined here as family and socioeconomic exposures negatively affecting children through behavioral, mental health and biological factors. Socioeconomic disadvantages in children have been linked with unhealthy lifestyles, higher levels of obesity and a poorer well-being compared to non-socioeconomically disadvantaged groups [11][12][13][14].…”