Spanish Title: Asociación entre factores ambientales y pautas de crianza con el Índice de Masa Corporal de preescolares de hogares infantiles de Floridablanca, Colombia

Abstract

The association of environmental factors and child-rearing practices with body mass index z-score (BMIZ) in children residents of Children’s Homes from Floridablanca, Colombia was studied. A random sample of 176 preschool children aged 3-6 years was weighed and measured, their parents or caregiver were also measured and they answered a survey. The generalized linear model showed that BMIZ increased significantly with children’s age (β=0.02), children’s sex (male β=0.27), mother’s occupation (homemaker β=0.29), mother’s overweight (β=0.20), person who accompanies children while they eat (relatives β=0,49; anyone or non-relative β=0.40), person who cooks (grandmother β=0.55), adequate time spent on eating by children (β=0.54), and overeating (0.51). BMIZ decreased significantly with mother’s occupation (looking for a job or student β=-0.43), maternal history of hypertension (β=-0.26), motivation to eat (β=-0.59) and pressure to eat (β=-0.55).

Keywords: Child rearing, risk factors, body mass index, pediatric obesity, feeding behavior.