The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: is there a connection between the body mass indexes of adolescents and their parents?

Abstract

Objectives: Adolescent cases suffering from obesity tend to increase in middle-income countries. This study focused on the relationship between adolescent obesity and parents body mass index (BMI) and the variables of satisfaction, diet implementation and sports promotion.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents living in the Mediterranean region (n=522, evaluated n=488). Anthropometric measurements were taken by expert researchers and data were collected using face-to-face survey technique.

Results: The average BMI of the adolescents and parents' was found to be above normal values. In adolescents, there was a positive and very good correlation with maternal BMI (r=0.711, p<0.01), a positive and moderate correlation with paternal BMI (r=0.512, p<0.01); In girl adolescents, it was positively and very well with maternal BMI (r=0.731, p<0.01), positively and moderately with father BMI (r=0.549, p<0.01); In boy adolescents, a positive and good correlation was found with maternal BMI (r=0.698, p<0.01), and a positive and moderate correlation with paternal BMI (r=0.459, p<0.01). In the analyzes comparing those who thought obesity threatened them (group 1) and those who did not think it threatened them (group 2), there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of BMI distribution, satisfaction with body weight, diet program implementation, diet recommendation by the family and sports encouragement (p<0, 05).

Conclusions: In a cross-sectional perspective paternal obesity is also significant in adolescents and the correlation with maternal obesity is relatively more effective. Also includes evidence of individual efforts and parental contribution in adolescents who see obesity as a threat.