Gender-specific mediators of the association between parental education and adiposity among adolescents: the HEIA study

Identifying the mechanisms behind socioeconomic inequalities in adiposity among youth is vital for efforts aimed at combating these inequalities. The study explored whether a broad range of behavioral and familial factors mediated the associations between parental education and indicators of adiposi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2019-05, Vol.9 (1), p.7282-7282, Article 7282
Main Authors: Gebremariam, Mekdes K, Arah, Onyebuchi A, Bergh, Ingunn H, Andersen, Lene F, Ommundsen, Yngvar, Totland, Torunn H, Bjelland, Mona, Grydeland, May, Lien, Nanna
Format: Article
Language:eng ; nor
Subjects:
Adipose tissue
Adiposity
Adolescent
Adolescents
Body fat
Child
Educational Status
Exercise
Female
Health Status Disparities
Humans
Male
Norway - epidemiology
Parents - education
Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology
Pediatric Obesity - etiology
Physical activity
Risk Factors
Screen Time
Sedentary Behavior
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Teenagers
Waist Circumference
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Summary:Identifying the mechanisms behind socioeconomic inequalities in adiposity among youth is vital for efforts aimed at combating these inequalities. The study explored whether a broad range of behavioral and familial factors mediated the associations between parental education and indicators of adiposity among adolescents. Baseline data from a school-based intervention study conducted in 2007 among 11-year-old adolescents were used. Anthropometric outcomes, physical activity and sedentary time among adolescents were objectively measured. Other behavioral variables and parental waist circumference were self-reported. Mediation analyses were conducted. Among boys, maternal waist circumference (WC), paternal WC and TV viewing mediated 16%, 11.5% and 13% of the association between parental education and adolescent WC. The respective proportions when body fat percentage was used as the outcome variable were 22.5%, 16% and 21%. Among girls, maternal and paternal WC mediated 20% and 14% of the association between parental education and WC. The respective proportions when body fat percentage was used as the outcome variable were 14% and 10%. Other included variables did not play any mediating role. Parental WC was found to be a mediator of socioeconomic differences in adiposity in both genders; underlying mechanisms were however not investigated. Among boys, reducing TV time could contribute to the reduction of social inequalities in adiposity.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-43604-w