IMPACT OF MEDICAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS ON OBESITY IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE NORTH OF VIETNAM: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Obesity in children increases the risk of overweight and obesity in adults and leads to several complications, both physical and mental, which put a strain on public health. A case-control study of 360 obese children and 786 normal children (according to WHO 2006 criteria) as a control group helped to elucidate the influence of medical and social factors on the development of childhood obesity. Univariate regression analysis showed the following risk factors: overweight/obesity of the father with OR = 5.1 (95% CI: 3.8 - 6.9): mother's overweight/obesity with OR = 6.1 (95% CI: 3.8 9.7); stress during pregnancy of mother with OR = 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1 - 2.1); excessive weight gain of mother during pregnancy (>= 12 kg) with OR = 1.75 (95% CI: 1.3 - 2.3). Risk factors related to nutrition and physical activities were found: fast eating speed with OR = 2.1 (95% CI: 1.2 - 3.9); soft drinks with OR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1 - 2.3); time for TV watching if >= 2 hours per day with OR = 4.7 (95% CI: 3.4 - 6.5) or during 1 - 2 hours per day OR = 2.6 (95% CI: 1.9 - 3.5), respectively. Multivariate regression analysis identified the most significant risk factors for obesity in children: BMI of the father and mother, time for TV watching per day and eating speed, with the further development of a formula for calculating the probability of obesity, which can be used in organizing a preventive program for obesity in children.