Impact of Maternal Nutritional Status and Mental Health on Children with Obesity: Relationship Between Anthropometric Parameters, Food Addiction, and Stress

Joicy Karla Grangeiro Pereira, Rúbia Cartaxo Squizato de Moraes, Thallyta Alanna Ferreira Viana das Neves, Davyson Barbosa Duarte, Cristiane Cosmo Silva-Luis, Paulo César Trindade da Costa, Carla Lúcio Alves, Melyssa Kellyane Cavalcanti Galdino, Carla Alexandra da Silva Moita Minervino, Nassib Bezerra Bueno, José Luiz de Brito Alves and Vinicius José Baccin Martins ()
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Joicy Karla Grangeiro Pereira: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Rúbia Cartaxo Squizato de Moraes: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Thallyta Alanna Ferreira Viana das Neves: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Davyson Barbosa Duarte: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Cristiane Cosmo Silva-Luis: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Paulo César Trindade da Costa: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Carla Lúcio Alves: Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Melyssa Kellyane Cavalcanti Galdino: Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Carla Alexandra da Silva Moita Minervino: Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Nassib Bezerra Bueno: Postgradute Program in Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceio 57072-900, Brazil
José Luiz de Brito Alves: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Vinicius José Baccin Martins: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Childhood obesity is a complex and multifactorial disease influenced by various factors including behavioral, physical, and psychological conditions. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal and child stress and food addiction on the nutritional status of children with obesity. Children aged 6 to 12 years were divided into Control Group (n = 42) and Obesity Group (n = 68) according to BMI-Z score. Mothers were allocated to their children’s respective groups. Anthropometric measures, body composition, stress levels, and food addiction were evaluated in both children and mothers. Children with obesity exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of food addiction compared to controls (22.1% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.006), while mothers in the control group showed higher stress levels (68.6% vs. 46.3%, p = 0.039). Positive correlations were observed between mother–child pairs for weight (r = 0.433, p < 0.01) and waist circumference (r = 0.461, p < 0.01). In children, food addiction was a significant predictor of BMI-Z scores (adjusted R square = 0.186); however, maternal BMI and stress were more important predictors (adjusted R square = 0.468). These findings highlight the influence of maternal physical and psychological health on childhood BMI-Z scores. Effective interventions should target both mother and child to improve overall health outcomes.

Keywords: stress; dyad; food addiction; obese; children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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