Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and the first 1000 days of life associated with obesity in Vietnamese preschool children.

Abstract

Childhood overweight and obesity (OW&OB) have become major public health concerns worldwide, including in Vietnam, where rapid urbanization and lifestyle transitions may contribute to this trend. This study aims to examine the associations between sociodemographic factors, lifestyle behaviors, and exposures during the first 1000 days of life with OW&OB in Vietnamese preschool children. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 14 740 preschool children representative of three socioeconomic areas of Hanoi, Vietnam. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and prenatal and postnatal factors were collected via parental and teacher reporting. Anthropometric measurements were recorded, and OW&OB were defined using World Health Organization standards. The generalized estimating equation model was used to examine associations. Factors found to be significantly and positively associated with both OW&OB include gestational weight gain >20 kg (OR*OW = 1.71, OR*OB = 2.05), birth weight >4000 grams (OR*OW = 1.90, OR*OB = 2.10), meal duration <20 min (OR*OW = 2.19, OR*OB = 3.49), preference for fatty foods (OR*OW = 1.48, OR*OB = 2.20), and bedtime snack (OR*OW = 1.39, OR*OB = 1.73). Place of residence, gestational age, delivery mode, and breastfeeding practice are also significantly associated with OW, but not with OB. The results of this study highlight the multifactorial nature of childhood obesity, emphasizing the need to focus on parental education, urban planning, and early-life nutrition as essential aspects to address this growing epidemic in public health interventions.