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Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children of Immigrant Origin in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

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  • Joaquín Moncho

    (Research Unit for the Analysis of Mortality and Health Statistics, Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine, Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain)

  • Alba Martínez-García

    (Balmis Research Group in History of Science, Health Care and Food, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain)

  • Eva Mª Trescastro-López

    (Balmis Research Group in History of Science, Health Care and Food, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain)

Abstract

Social determinants of health are a major contributing factor to health inequalities and have important effects on the health of the population. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity in native and immigrant children aged 2–14 years residing in Spain, and to explore its relationship with socioeconomic factors, habits, and living and health conditions. This study used data from the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey, which collects health information on the population residing in Spain. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the risk of overweight/obesity controlling for the variables of interest. The final sample consisted of 2351 households. Children of immigrant origin had a significantly higher overall prevalence of overweight and/or obesity than natives, both in boys (40.5% vs. 29.5%) and girls (44.8% vs. 30.3%), and a higher adjusted risk of overweight/obesity (OR = 1.67). In addition, it has been observed that children of immigrant origin were at higher risk of consuming sugary soft drinks, exercising less, and using screens more. In conclusion, the increased risk of having different habits that may contribute to developing excess weight and of having overweight/obesity in children with a migrant background should guide public health policies and interventions, emphasizing those groups at higher risk and incorporating considerations of socioeconomic inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Joaquín Moncho & Alba Martínez-García & Eva Mª Trescastro-López, 2022. "Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children of Immigrant Origin in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1711-:d:740742
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Susana Moreira & Luzia Gonçalves, 2020. "Overweight and Obesity in Children of Immigrant Versus Native Parents: Exploring a Local Setting in Portugal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Bianca R. Argueza & Karen Sokal-Gutierrez & Kristine A. Madsen, 2020. "Obesity and Obesogenic Behaviors in Asian American Children with Immigrant and US-Born Mothers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Alba Martínez-García & Julia Díez & Carlos Fernández-Escobar & Eva María Trescastro-López & Pamela Pereyra-Zamora & Carles Ariza & Usama Bilal & Manuel Franco, 2020. "Adaptation and Evaluation of the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores to Assess Mediterranean Food Environments (NEMS-S-MED)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-12, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan-Antonio Mondéjar-Jiménez & Guillermo Ceballos-Santamaría & Andrés Valencia-García & Francisco Sánchez-Cubo, 2022. "The Role of Physical Education in Preventing Unhealthy Lifestyles in Immigrant Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-11, June.

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