The Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on the Body Characteristics, Proportion, and Health Behavior of Children Aged 6–12 Years

Abstract

Background: The research aimed to determine how socioeconomic factors influence the body structure and health behaviors of children in a suburban commune. Methods: Data from 376 children aged 6.78 to 11.82 years from Jabłonna, Poland, were analyzed. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding the socioeconomic status and dietary habits of these children, and physical measurements such as height, weight, pelvic width, shoulder width, chest, waist, hip, and arm circumferences, and three skinfolds were taken. Hip index, pelvi-acromial index, Marty’s index, BMI (body mass index), WHR (waist–hip ratio), and the sum of three skinfolds were calculated. One-way analysis of variance, Student’s t-test, and X2 test with p < 0.05 were used. Results: The size of the family and the level of education and occupation of the fathers had a significant impact on the body proportions of the children. Children from larger centers with more educated parents were seen to have healthier eating habits and higher levels of physical activity, and their parents were less likely to smoke cigarettes. Conclusions: It was concluded that the development environment of the parents, such as their level of education and profession, play a more important role than the size of birthplace.