Prevalence and Risk Factors of Overweight and Obesity among Adolescents and Their Parents in Central Greece (FETA Project)

Anna Patsopoulou, Zoi Tsimtsiou, Antonios Katsioulis, George Rachiotis, Eleni Malissiova and Christos Hadjichristodoulou
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Anna Patsopoulou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, School of Health Science, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41222, Greece
Zoi Tsimtsiou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, School of Health Science, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41222, Greece
Antonios Katsioulis: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, School of Health Science, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41222, Greece
George Rachiotis: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, School of Health Science, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41222, Greece
Eleni Malissiova: Food Technology Department, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece
Christos Hadjichristodoulou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, School of Health Science, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41222, Greece

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: The increasing obesity trend in adolescence is a public health concern. The initial phase of Feeding Exercise Trial in Adolescents (FETA) aimed in investigating the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents and their parents and in identifying associated factors among parents’ and adolescents’ demographics, eating habits, and parental style. The sample consisted of 816 adolescents, aged 12–18 years old, and their parents from 17 middle and high schools in Larissa, central Greece. During school visits, anthropometric measurements were performed along with examination of blood pressure. The students completed the study tool that comprised of demographics and the modified versions of Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), the Parent-Initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire-2 (PIMCQ-2) and the Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire (FEAHQ). Their parents completed a questionnaire with demographics, anthropometrics and FEAHQ. Normal Body Mass Index was found in 75.2% of the adolescents, 2.6% of the adolescents were underweight, 18% overweight and 4.2% obese. Regarding the parents, 76.3% of the fathers and 39.2% of the mothers were overweight or obese. The logistic regression analysis revealed that, overweight or obesity in adolescence was associated with gender (boy), maternal overweight or obesity, lower maternal educational level, eating without feeling hungry, eating in rooms other than kitchen and having a father that motivates by worrying about failing. A significant proportion of adolescents and their parents are overweight or obese. Future interventions should focus both on the parents and children, taking into account the role of parental authority style, in preventing adolescents’ obesity.

Keywords: obesity; overweight; adolescents; body mass index; Greece; parental style (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2015:i:1:p:83-:d:61374

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