Evaluation of the Frequency of Obesity and Associated Factors in Children of Obese and Overweight Mothers

INTRODUCTION: The mother is an important determinant of the nutrition of her children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between obese or overweight mothers, their sociodemographic status and appetite on the anthropometric measurements of their children, and evaluate the relationship between breastfeeding duration, initiation time of a complementary diet and children’s BMI classification.
METHODS: Children whose ages were between 2 and 5 years old, with no additional chronic disease, were included. The sociodemographic data anthropometric measurements and appetites of the children and their mothers were determined. Obese or overweight mothers and mothers with normal body mass index (BMI) were studied as two separate groups. The duration of breastfeeding and initiation time of a complementary diet for the children was classified as <4 months, 4–6 months and > 6 months.
RESULTS: A total of 182 children (109 with obese and overweight mothers and 73 with mothers with normal BMI) were included. The distribution of overweight and obese children among the group of obese and overweight mother was higher. When the weight, weight percentile and weight SDS values of the obese or overweight mothers were compared with their children, a moderately statistically significant positive correlation was found. The distribution of overweight and obese children among the group of employed mothers, and the distribution of underweight children among the group of unemployed mothers, was high. A significant relationship was found between maternal appetite and the BMI classification of the children. No statistically significant difference was found between breastfeeding duration, initiation time of a complementary diet and children’s BMI classification.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was determined that mother’s characteristics of having a BMI classification of overweight or obese, excessive appetite and being employed may be risk factors for developing overweight and obese children.