Resumo

BALLADARES CHAVARRIA, Marcela; PHILCO LIMA, Patricia; RIVERO, Fernando  e  CORTEZ GORDILLO, Jaqueline. Family featuresand depressionas risk factors forobesityinschoolchildren. Oruro - Bolivia 2011. BIOFARBO [online]. 2012, vol.20, n.1, pp. 49-57. ISSN 1813-5363.

Obesity in children is a primary health problem because of its adverse clinical and social effects. The World Health Organization has called it the "epidemic of the 21st century." The aim of this study was to establish whether family characteristics and depression in children are risk factors for obesity in schoolchildren aged 7-12 years in Oruro, Bolivia. This was an observational, analytical case-control study. The exposure variables were parent and family characteristics. The outcome variable was the children’s nutritional status and the control variables were biological sex and depression in children. A total of 288 children and their families were included (144 cases and 144 controls). The factors associated with obesity in children, adjusted for the children’s gender and depression status subgroups were the parents’ primary school status, full-time jobs, dysfunctional family dynamics, extended family, and monthly expenditures on food greater than 33% of monthly income. The risk factors were low level of education for the parents and full-time jobs for the mothers, and depressive symptoms were a confounding factor. Multiple logistic regression showed the mother’s full-time job (p=0.007), dysfunctional family dynamics (p=0.000), and monthly expenditures for food greater than 33.9% (p=0.023) as risk factors modifying effect of biological sex and depression. The factors associated with obesity, adjusted for the children’s gender and depression, are key to developing this condition. Prevention and intervention strategies integrating family dynamics and depression in children must be considered in order to promote interactions and collaboration activities.

Palavras-chave : Obesity; schoolchildren depression; family factors.