Overweight and obesity correlated with poor socio-economic status in 4-5-year-old children across Australia

A nationally representative sample of 4983 4-5-year-old Australian children was used to estimate the prevalence of obesity and overweight, and to investigate associations between socio-economic status and overweight/obesity (International Obesity TaskForce definitions) and waist circumference. As a result, 15.2% of Australian preschoolers were estimated to be overweight and 5.5% obese. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that (i) speaking a language other than English, (ii) indigenous status and (iii) lower disadvantage quintile were the best independent predictors of higher body mass index status, with children in the lowest quintile of social disadvantage having 47% higher odds of being in a heavier body mass index category when compared with those in the highest quintile. Waist circumference was not linked to any socioeconomic variable.

Abstract