IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i2p1157-d1029552.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Interaction between Geographical Areas and Family Environment of Dietary Habits, Physical Activity, Nutritional Knowledge and Obesity of Adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Alessio Pellegrino

    (Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Samuele Bacci

    (Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Francesco Guido

    (Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Andrea Zoppi

    (Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Loira Toncelli

    (Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Laura Stefani

    (Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Maria Boddi

    (Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Alessandra Modesti

    (Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Pietro Amedeo Modesti

    (Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

Abstract

There are marked differences in the regional distribution of childhood obesity in Italy. This study sought to investigate the interaction between geographical areas and family environment of dietary habits, physical activity, nutritional knowledge and obesity of adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 426 school-aged children and 298 parents residing in Central Italy (Florence, Tuscany) and Southern Italy (Corigliano, Calabria), in 2021. Survey questionnaire investigated anthropometry, eating behavior, nutritional knowledge and physical activity. BMI was determined and compared with reference percentile charts for adolescents. Multivariate regression analyses showed that: (1) an adolescent’s BMI was directly influenced by their parents’ BMI independently of parental nutritional knowledge and dietary or physical activity habits; (2) parents transmitted eating or physical activity habits to their children; (3) the geographic region of residence is not in itself an independent determinant of children’s BMI. The clear message is that prevention of childhood obesity should consider family-based approaches. Parental obesity can be the point of convergence of the complex interactions between a parent’s and child’s habits and should be one of the most important factors to look for.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessio Pellegrino & Samuele Bacci & Francesco Guido & Andrea Zoppi & Loira Toncelli & Laura Stefani & Maria Boddi & Alessandra Modesti & Pietro Amedeo Modesti, 2023. "Interaction between Geographical Areas and Family Environment of Dietary Habits, Physical Activity, Nutritional Knowledge and Obesity of Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-9, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1157-:d:1029552
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/2/1157/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/2/1157/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Adela Hruby & Frank Hu, 2015. "The Epidemiology of Obesity: A Big Picture," PharmacoEconomics, Springer, vol. 33(7), pages 673-689, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kim, Youngmi & Lee, Haenim & Park, Aely, 2020. "Adverse childhood experiences, economic hardship, and obesity: Differences by gender," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Wendy Hens & Dirk Vissers & Nick Verhaeghe & Jan Gielen & Luc Van Gaal & Jan Taeymans, 2021. "Unsupervised Exercise Training Was Not Found to Improve the Metabolic Health or Phenotype over a 6-Month Dietary Intervention: A Randomised Controlled Trial with an Embedded Economic Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Cezary Wojtyla & Pawel Stanirowski & Pawel Gutaj & Michal Ciebiera & Andrzej Wojtyla, 2021. "Perinatal Outcomes in a Population of Diabetic and Obese Pregnant Women—The Results of the Polish National Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    4. Arnulf Josef Hartl & Johanna Freidl & Daniela Huber, 2023. "Effects of Alpine Natural Health Resources on Human Health and Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-3, June.
    5. Rafael M. Tassitano & Robert G. Weaver & Maria Cecília M. Tenório & Keith Brazendale & Michael W. Beets, 2020. "Clusters of non-dietary obesogenic behaviors among adolescents in Brazil: a latent profile analysis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(6), pages 881-891, July.
    6. Ivan Parise & Penelope Abbott & Steven Trankle, 2021. "Drivers to Obesity—A Study of the Association between Time Spent Commuting Daily and Obesity in the Nepean Blue Mountains Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Cecilia Alcantara Braga Garcia & Karina Cardoso Meira & Alessandra Hubner Souza & Ana Laura de Grossi Oliveira & Nathalia Sernizon Guimarães, 2024. "Obesity and Associated Factors in Brazilian Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Representative Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-23, August.
    8. Sinead O’Mahony & Clare B. O’Donovan & Nuala Collins & Kevin Burke & Gerardine Doyle & Eileen R. Gibney, 2023. "Reformulation of Processed Yogurt and Breakfast Cereals over Time: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    9. Manou Anselma & Mai Jeanette Maidy Chinapaw & Teatske Maria Altenburg, 2018. "Determinants of Child Health Behaviors in a Disadvantaged Area from a Community Perspective: A Participatory Needs Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Silvia Coronado-Ferrer & Antonia Ferrer-Sapena & Rafael Aleixandre-Benavent & Juan Carlos Valderrama Zurián & Lourdes Castelló Cogollos, 2022. "Global Trends in Scientific Research on Pediatric Obesity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    11. Rafael M. Tassitano & Robert G. Weaver & Maria Cecília M. Tenório & Keith Brazendale & Michael W. Beets, 0. "Clusters of non-dietary obesogenic behaviors among adolescents in Brazil: a latent profile analysis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 0, pages 1-11.
    12. Nathalia A. B. Souza & Karina A. Rimes-Dias & Janaina C. Costa & Daniela S. Canella, 2022. "Weight Gain and Change in Body Mass Index after Age 20 in the Brazilian Population and Associated Sociodemographic Factors: Data from the National Health Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, March.
    13. Hongli Li & Yuanzhong Xu & Yanyan Jiang & Zhiying Jiang & Joshua Otiz-Guzman & Jessie C. Morrill & Jing Cai & Zhengmei Mao & Yong Xu & Benjamin R. Arenkiel & Cheng Huang & Qingchun Tong, 2023. "The melanocortin action is biased toward protection from weight loss in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    14. Pallavi Kompella & Guliang Wang & Russell E. Durrett & Yanhao Lai & Celeste Marin & Yuan Liu & Samy L. Habib & John DiGiovanni & Karen M. Vasquez, 2024. "Obesity increases genomic instability at DNA repeat-mediated endogenous mutation hotspots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    15. Claire Beale & Erica L. Rauff & Wendy J. O’Brien & Sarah P. Shultz & Philip W. Fink & Rozanne Kruger, 2020. "Are all Sedentary Behaviors Equal? An Examination of Sedentary Behavior and Associations with Indicators of Disease Risk Factors in Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-13, April.
    16. Hui Chin Koo & Lay Kim Tan & Geok Pei Lim & Chee Cheong Kee & Mohd Azahadi Omar, 2023. "Obesity and Its Association with Undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus, High Blood Pressure and Hypercholesterolemia in the Malaysian Adult Population: A National Cross-Sectional Study Using NHMS Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-18, February.
    17. LesLee Funderburk & Thomas Cardaci & Andrew Fink & Keyanna Taylor & Jane Rohde & Debra Harris, 2020. "Healthy Behaviors through Behavioral Design–Obesity Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-19, July.
    18. Jongnam Hwang & Eun-Young Lee & Chung Gun Lee, 2019. "Measuring Socioeconomic Inequalities in Obesity among Korean Adults, 1998–2015," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, May.
    19. Matthew A. Cottam & Heather L. Caslin & Nathan C. Winn & Alyssa H. Hasty, 2022. "Multiomics reveals persistence of obesity-associated immune cell phenotypes in adipose tissue during weight loss and weight regain in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    20. Talita Monsores Paixão & Liliane Reis Teixeira & Carlos Augusto Ferreira de Andrade & Debora Sepulvida & Martha Martinez-Silveira & Camila Nunes & Carlos Eduardo Gomes Siqueira, 2023. "Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Latino Immigrants to the USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-33, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1157-:d:1029552. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.