The relative contribution of layers of the Social Ecological Model to childhood obesity

Abstract

Objective The Social Ecological Model (SEM) has been used to describe the aetiology of childhood obesity and to develop a framework for prevention. The current paper applies the SEM to data collected at multiple levels, representing different layers of the SEM, and examines the unique and relative contribution of each layer to children’s weight status. Design Cross-sectional survey of randomly selected households with children living in low-income diverse communities. Setting A telephone survey conducted in 2009–2010 collected information on parental perceptions of their neighbourhoods, and household, parent and child demographic characteristics. Parents provided measured height and weight data for their children. Geocoded data were used to calculate proximity of a child’s residence to food and physical activity outlets. Subjects Analysis based on 560 children whose parents participated in the survey and provided measured heights and weights. Results Multiple logistic regression models were estimated to determine the joint contribution of elements within each layer of the SEM as well as the relative contribution of each layer. Layers of the SEM representing parental perceptions of their neighbourhoods, parent demographics and neighbourhood characteristics made the strongest contributions to predicting whether a child was overweight or obese. Layers of the SEM representing food and physical activity environments made smaller, but still significant, contributions to predicting children’s weight status. Conclusions The approach used herein supports using the SEM for predicting child weight status and uncovers some of the most promising domains and strategies for childhood obesity prevention that can be used for designing interventions.

Clustering of risk-related modifiable behaviours and their association with overweight and obesity among a large sample of youth in the COMPASS study

“…Sixth, COMPASS does not collect data on family-level or neighbourhood-level socio-demographics. Similar to the multi-dimensional nature of health behaviours and their co-occurrence, socio-demographic factors at both the family and neighbourhood levels have an influence on health behaviours and health outcomes [59] and would be worth exploring and including in future studies. Finally, clusters and data analyses are driven by the data, and therefore not necessarily generalizable beyond this population.…”

Associations between Food Environment around Schools and Professionally Measured Weight Status for Middle and High School Students

“…6,7 Although the magnitude of the association observed between small grocery stores and students' weight status is small, community food environment is one of many factors affecting childhood obesity, and small, but significant, changes in each of these factors can potentially help mitigate childhood obesity. 28 Previous studies do not make a distinction between convenience stores and small grocery stores, which are neighborhood stores with a small selection of healthy food options. [8][9][10]17,29,30 As a result, these studies offer little insight into the potential of upgrading these neighborhood stores to improve their healthy food offerings.…”

Obesity and physical activity patterns among Balearic Islands children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

“…This worldwide health problem is influenced by different factors, such as: genetics, environmental factors, parental education, family's health behaviours, physical activity and sedentary behaviours, according to Social Ecological Model (Ohri-Vachaspati et al, 2015). Parental education appears to be an influencing factor on variation in children's body mass index (BMI), but the scientific evidence is mixed, with studies reporting and increase, decrease or no change in inequalities.…”