Table 4.
Univariate odds ratios of socio-demographic and health factors associated with overweight and obese children as compared with normal weight children, aged 5 to 15
| n | % | OR | 95% CI | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | |||||
| Female | 80/325 | 24.5 | 1.00 | ||
| Male | 76/316 | 24.0 | 0.97 | (0.68–1.40) | 0.881 |
| Age | |||||
| 12 to 15 year olds | 54/240 | 22.4 | 1.00 | ||
| 8 to 11 year olds | 59/234 | 25.0 | 1.15 | (0.75–1.76) | 0.513 |
| 5 to 7 year olds | 43/166 | 25.9 | 1.21 | (0.76–1.91) | 0.423 |
| Maternal employment status | |||||
| Unemployed/economically inactive | 40/165 | 24.5 | 1.00 | ||
| Part-time employed | 82/346 | 23.6 | 0.95 | (0.62–1.46) | 0.816 |
| Full-time employed | 33/130 | 25.7 | 1.07 | (0.63–1.81) | 0.813 |
| Household income | |||||
| $80,001 or more | 58/267 | 21.8 | 1.00 | ||
| $60,001 to $80,000 | 23/122 | 18.5 | 0.82 | (0.47–1.40) | 0.461 |
| $40,001 to $60,000 | 32/114 | 28.4 | 1.42 | (0.86–2.35) | 0.168 |
| Up to $40,000 | 29/92 | 31.9 | 1.68 | (0.99–2.85) | 0.053 |
| Not stated | 13/47 | 28.4 | 1.42 | (0.71–2.87) | 0.324 |
| SEIFA | |||||
| Highest | 28/157 | 17.9 | 1.00 | ||
| High | 33/129 | 25.7 | 1.59 | (0.90–2.80) | 0.111 |
| Middle | 38/125 | 30.3 | 1.99 | (1.14–3.49) | 0.015 |
| Low | 29/132 | 21.7 | 1.27 | (0.71–2.28) | 0.417 |
| Lowest | 27/98 | 28.0 | 1.78 | (0.98–3.25) | 0.060 |
| Area | |||||
| Metropolitan | 100/424 | 23.5 | 1.00 | ||
| Country | 56/217 | 25.7 | 1.13 | (0.77–1.64) | 0.539 |
| Children in the household | |||||
| 3 or more | 43/193 | 22.2 | 1.00 | ||
| 2 children | 74/302 | 24.4 | 1.13 | (0.73–1.73) | 0.581 |
| 1 child | 39/145 | 26.8 | 1.28 | (0.78–2.12) | 0.329 |
| Maternal highest educational achievement | |||||
| Degree or higher | 28/157 | 17.7 | 1.00 | ||
| Trade/certificate/diploma | 49/188 | 26.3 | 1.66 | (0.99–2.81) | 0.057 |
| No schooling to secondary | 78/296 | 26.5 | 1.68 | (1.03–2.73) | 0.036 |
| Family structure | |||||
| Child or children living with biological parents | 117/523 | 22.4 | 1.00 | ||
| Sole mother | 30/84 | 35.0 | 1.87 | (1.14–3.06) | 0.013 |
| Other (step/blended/shared) | 9/33 | 26.3 | 1.24 | (0.56–2.75) | 0.603 |
| Financial status | |||||
| Can save a bit/a lot | 88/393 | 22.3 | 1.00 | ||
| Just enough to last until next pay/spend whatever left over | 56/206 | 27.3 | 1.30 | (0.89–1.92) | 0.179 |
| Spend more than earn | 11/33 | 32.2 | 1.65 | (0.77–3.56) | 0.198 |
| Dwelling status | |||||
| Owned or being purchased | 137/574 | 23.8 | 1.00 | ||
| Rented | 18/62 | 29.1 | 1.31 | (0.74–2.35) | 0.357 |
| Other | 1/5 | 14.0 | 0.52 | (0.04–6.75) | 0.619 |
| Current asthma | |||||
| No | 139/580 | 24.0 | 1.00 | ||
| Yes | 16/61 | 26.8 | 1.16 | (0.64–2.11) | 0.632 |
| Mental health problems | |||||
| No | 134/569 | 23.6 | 1.00 | ||
| Yes | 21/72 | 29.4 | 1.35 | (0.78–2.32) | 0.280 |
| Recommended consumption of vegetable serves | |||||
| Yes | 57/248 | 22.9 | 1.00 | ||
| No | 99/393 | 25.1 | 1.13 | (0.78–1.64) | 0.518 |
| Recommended consumption of fruit serves per day | |||||
| Yes | 103/427 | 24.3 | 1.00 | ||
| No | 52/214 | 24.2 | 1.00 | (0.68–1.46) | 0.993 |
| French fries, fried potato or crisps consumption | |||||
| Once a week or less (inc. never) | 88/358 | 24.5 | 1.00 | ||
| More than once a week | 68/282 | 24.0 | 0.97 | (0.68–1.40) | 0.891 |
| Processed meat consumption | |||||
| Once a week or less (inc. never) | 69/295 | 23.3 | 1.00 | ||
| More than once a week | 87/346 | 25.1 | 1.10 | (0.77–1.59) | 0.591 |
| Fast food consumption | |||||
| Less than once a week (inc. never) | 87/404 | 21.6 | 1.00 | ||
| Once a week or more | 68/236 | 28.8 | 1.47 | (1.02–2.12) | 0.041 |
| Water consumed per day | |||||
| Less than 8 glasses | 136/579 | 23.6 | 1.00 | ||
| 8 glasses or more | 19/59 | 32.6 | 1.57 | (0.88–2.80) | 0.126 |
| Juice consumed per day | |||||
| Some | 64/304 | 21.0 | 1.00 | ||
| None | 91/334 | 27.4 | 1.42 | (0.98–2.04) | 0.063 |
| Soft/sport drink consumed per day | |||||
| None | 117/513 | 22.8 | 1.00 | ||
| Some | 35/121 | 29.0 | 1.38 | (0.89–2.15) | 0.155 |
| Daily organised sport | |||||
| More than 0.5 h | 45/203 | 22.0 | 1.00 | ||
| Less than 0.5 h | 67/285 | 23.5 | 1.09 | (0.71–1.67) | 0.707 |
| None | 40/144 | 27.9 | 1.37 | (0.84–2.25) | 0.207 |
| Daily reading for pleasure | |||||
| More than 0.5 h | 52/212 | 24.6 | 1.00 | ||
| Less than 0.5 h | 68/308 | 22.1 | 0.87 | (0.58–1.31) | 0.506 |
| None | 33/115 | 28.5 | 1.22 | (0.73–2.03) | 0.451 |
| Daily time spent studying | |||||
| More than 0.5 h | 48/221 | 21.8 | 1.00 | ||
| Less than 0.5 h | 79/343 | 23.1 | 1.08 | (0.72–1.62) | 0.719 |
| None | 27/72 | 37.4 | 2.15 | (1.21–3.81) | 0.009 |
| Daily screen based activity | |||||
| None to 0.5 h | 13/73 | 18.1 | 1.00 | ||
| 0.5 h to 1 h | 35/206 | 17.0 | 0.93 | (0.46–1.87) | 0.841 |
| 1 h to 2 h | 57/226 | 25.0 | 1.51 | (0.77–2.95) | 0.226 |
| More than 2 h | 51/135 | 37.5 | 2.72 | (1.36–5.43) | 0.005 |
| Daily time spent sleeping | |||||
| More than 10 h | 26/163 | 15.9 | 1.00 | ||
| 8 to 10 h | 89/326 | 27.4 | 2.00 | 1.23–3.25 | 0.005 |
| Up to 8 h | 39/148 | 26.3 | 1.89 | 1.08–3.29 | 0.026 |
Data source: SAMSS March 2008–December 2009
Bold indicates statistically significant at P < 0.05