Association between Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Height with Obesity in Low-Income Chilean Children in the Transition from Preschool to First Grade

Abstract

This study determined the percentage of obesity among lower-income Chilean children 4–6 years of age, by socioeconomic vulnerability (family score assessing the children’s risk of becoming poor) and height. The sample included 17,080 children with anthropometry at 4, 5, and 6 years of age, and three categories of socioeconomic vulnerability. Body mass index Z-score (BMI Z), % obesity, height/age Z-score (HAZ) by socioeconomic vulnerability/sex, the effect of socioeconomic vulnerability on BMI Z and HAZ by age/sex, and BMI Z and % obesity at 4–6 years, according to initial height, were determined. Between 4–6 years, % obesity is very high, especially among the less-vulnerable and taller children. Preventive measures should prioritize this group.

KEYWORDS:

• children
• Chile
• height
• obesity
• socioeconomic vulnerability

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors thank JUNAEB for providing the data set for this study and advice on the statistical analysis.