Overweight and Obesity in Finnish Children by Parents’ Socioeconomic Position: A Registry-Based Study

Abstract

<p>Objectives: To examine associations between parents’ socioeconomic position (SEP) and child overweight and obesity, using registry data. Methods: Data (final n = 194,423) on children’s height, weight and parents’ SEP were drawn from the national Register of Primary Health Care Visits (Avohilmo) and Statistics Finland. Risk ratios for bernoulli-distributed overweight (RR<sub>OW</sub>) and obesity (RR<sub>OB</sub>) according to SEP were estimated using generalized linear models and using a log -link. Results: The risk for obesity was lower in boys from high-income families (RR<sub>OB</sub> 0.76), for overweight and obesity was lower in boys (RR<sub>OW</sub> 0.72, RR<sub>OB</sub> 0.58) and girls (RR<sub>OW</sub> 0.72, RR<sub>OB</sub> 0.54) with highly educated fathers, in boys (RR<sub>OW</sub> 0.79, RR<sub>OB</sub> 0.58) and girls (RR<sub>OW</sub> 0.78, RR<sub>OB</sub> 0.56) with high-educated mothers and in boys (RR<sub>OW</sub> 0.85, RR<sub>OB</sub> 0.77) and girls (RR<sub>OW</sub> 0.80, RR<sub>OB</sub> 0.69) living in urban areas, as compared to low-income families, low-educated parents, and rural residence, respectively. Conclusion: The risk of overweight and obesity was increased in children with low SEP or rural residence. Administrative registers are a valid approach to monitor childhood obesity by parents’ SEP.</p>