Correlates of body mass index among primary school children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Objectives

To document the prevalence of overweight and obesity and examine associated risk factors.

Study design

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 16 primary public schools in eight districts of Ho Chi Minh City in 2016. A multistage clustering sampling method was used to collect a sample of 1806 pupils attending the first, second, and third grades (7–9 years).

Methods

Age- and sex-adjusted body mass index (BMI) status was defined using International Obesity Taskforce cut-offs. Ordered probit regression models were used to assess the association between child BMI and its socio-economic and demographic risk factors. The model was estimated separately for boys and girls to assess the extent to which the socio-economic gradients in BMI vary by gender.

Results

The prevalence of obesity among boys was twice the rate for girls (24.7 vs 12.3%). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were also higher among pupils attending schools located in urban districts than in semi-rural districts. Gender, household wealth, the frequency of having breakfast at home, parental body weight, and school location were strong predictors of child BMI status. The protective effect of having breakfast more frequently at home against the risk of overweight/obesity was more pronounced in girls than in boys. Father's body weight and child BMI were more strongly associated with boys from poorer households than boys from wealthier households, while the differences were not significant for girls.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity indicates an urgent need for more gender-specific, effective intervention, and prevention programs.