Adiposity and muscle strength level in pre-scholars according to the educational level and socio-demographic characteristics of their parents

Abstract

The educational level of the adult population is related to obesity, but there is little knowledge regar-ding the relationship of parents’ educational level with the obesity and muscle strength of Chilean pre-school children. Objective: To describe the levels of adiposity and muscular strength of pre-schoolers, according to the educational level and socio-demographic characteristics of their parents. Patients and Method: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with participation of pre-schoolers from kindergartens and their parents (n = 99). Variables studied were a) socio-demographic (survey with 4 items), b) anthropometry (weight, height, weight/height ratio, weight/height-z, and body mass index), c) body composition (fat mass in kg and %, muscle mass), and d) muscle strength (hand-grip muscle strength). The association between the above factors and the educational level of the parents [mother or father] of “low” [Low-EL] or “high” educational level [High-EL] were analy-sed. Results: There were significant differences between the weight/height according to the parents’ educational level (father Low-EL; 0.088 ± 0.170 vs High-EL-0.060 ± 0.163, P = 0.024), and in the percentage of fat mass (father Low-EL; 30.8 ± 0.8 vs High-EL; 28.7 ± 0.9%, P = 0.040). In the rest of the obesity markers, there were no significant differences according to the parents’ educational level nor in strength and muscle mass. Conclusions: Pre-school children of parents with low educational level show significantly higher values of weight/height and percentage of fat mass than those peers with parents with high educational level. These findings require further and more complex research to be corroborated.