Social determinants of health associated with overweight in children

Abstract

Introduction: Overweight in children is a consequence of a series of social determinants of health. Objective: To analyze the relation between the social determinants of health and overweight in children. Methods: Cases study (overweight) and check-ups (normal weight) in children under six years old attended in the external consultations at Los Angeles Children's Hospital from 2013 to 2015. The sample consisted in 175 cases selected by random numbers from a database of the health institution and 175 check-ups. Results: Children under two years old had a lower risk of overweight (OR= 0.15 IC95% 0.092-0.27) than those in the ages from two to six years old. In the children who stayed at home increased the risk of suffering the event under study (OR= 10.4 IC95% 4.11-26.5). In children who were fed with formula and breast milk simultaneously during the first six months of life increased the risk of overweight (OR= 13.0 IC95% 2.17-76.1). These variables were associated with overweight. Conclusions: Social determinants of health, such as age, stay at home, and combined diet with formula and breast milk in the first six months of life are important factors associated with overweight in children under 6 years old. © 2018, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.