@misc{HerrDeBockDiehletal., author = {Herr, Raphael and De Bock, Freia and Diehl, Katharina and Wiedemann, Eva and Sterdt, Elena and Blume, Miriam and Hoffmann, Stephanie and Herke, Max and Reuter, Marvin and Iashchenko, Iryna and Schneider, Sven}, title = {Associations of individual factors and early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres characteristics with preschoolers' BMI in Germany}, series = {BMC Public Health}, volume = {22}, journal = {BMC Public Health}, issn = {1471-2458}, doi = {10.1186/s12889-022-13814-5}, pages = {1 -- 13}, abstract = {Background The number of obese children is rising worldwide. Many studies have investigated single determinants of children's body mass index (BMI), yet studies measuring determinants at different potential levels of influence are sparse. The aim of this study is to investigate the independent role of parental socioeconomic position (SEP), additional family factors at the micro level, as well as early childhood education and care (ECEC) centre characteristics at the meso level regarding BMI. Methods Analyses used the baseline data of the PReschool INtervention Study (PRINS) including up to 1,151 children from 53 ECEC centres. Multi-level models first estimated the associations of parental SEP indicators (parental school education, vocational training, and household income) with the children's standard deviation scores for BMI (SDS BMI, standardised for age and gender). Second, structural (number of siblings), psychosocial (strained family relationships), and nutrition behavioural (soft-drink consumption, frequency of fast-food restaurant visits) family factors at the micro level were included. Third, characteristics of the ECEC centre at the meso level in terms of average group size, the ratio of overweight children in the group, ECEC centre type (all-day care), and the location of the ECEC centre (rural vs urban) were included. All analyses were stratified by gender and adjusted for age, migration background, and parental employment status. Results Estimates for boys and girls appeared to differ. In the full model, for boys the parental SEP indicators were not related to SDS BMI. Factors related to SDS BMI in boys were: two or more siblings; B = -.55; p = 0.045 [ref.: no sibling]), the characteristics of the ECEC centre in terms of average group size (20 - 25 children; B = -.54; p = 0.022 [ref.: < 20 children]), and the ratio of overweight children (more overweight children B = -1.39; p < 0.001 [ref.: few overweight children]). For girls the number of siblings (two and more siblings; B = .67; p = 0.027 [ref.: no sibling]) and average group size (> 25 children; B = -.52; p = 0.037 [ref.: < 20 children]) were related to SDS BMI. Conclusions The BMI of preschool children appears to be associated with determinants at the micro and meso level, however with some gender differences. The identified factors at the micro and meso level appear largely modifiable and can inform about possible interventions to reduce obesity in preschool children.}, language = {en} } @misc{HoffmannRattayBlumeetal., author = {Hoffmann, Stephanie and Rattay, Petra and Blume, Miriam and H{\"o}vener, Claudia and Schneider, Sven and Moor, Irene and Pischke, Claudia R. and Sch{\"u}ttig, Wiebke and De Bock, Freia and Spallek, Jacob}, title = {Do family characteristics explain a social gradient in overweight in early childhood?}, series = {European Journal of Public Health}, volume = {32}, journal = {European Journal of Public Health}, number = {Supplement_3}, issn = {1101-1262}, doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.581}, pages = {1}, abstract = {Background Children's overweight is associated with many factors, including their living situation, in particular their family's socioeconomic position (SEP) and family characteristics. Research on the extent to which family characteristics account for a social gradient in overweight in early life is scarce. This study evaluated whether family characteristics explain SEP differences in the risk of overweight in early childhood. Methods The study used baseline data of 3-6 year-old children (n = 1,116) from the intervention 'Ene mene fit' conducted at kindergartens in Baden-W{\"u}rttemberg, Germany. Data included overweight (body mass index > 90 percentile) and parents' reports on their education and family characteristics associated with overweight (child consumes: sweets in front of TV, soft drinks; family joined time: outdoor, breakfast, sports; cooking; child sets table; role model). Model-based single mediation analyses decomposed the total effect of highest parental education on overweight into direct (unmediated) and indirect (mediated) effects (OR, 95\% CI). Results Girls and boys with low parental education had higher odds for overweight than children with high/medium education. Among boys, low education influenced the risk of overweight via indirect effects of i. 'sweets consumption in front of TV' (OR = 1.31, 1.05-1.59) and ii. 'no joined sports' (OR = 1.14, 1.00-1.44). The direct effect of low education only remained significant when 'no joined sports' was considered (OR = 2.19, 1.11-5.19). Among girls, family characteristics measured here did not explain SEP differences in overweight. Conclusions The family characteristics 'sweets consumption in front of TV' and 'no joined sports' contribute to inequalities in overweight among boys, but not among girls. Therefore, more gender-sensitive research is needed to identify family risk and protective characteristics that explain health inequalities among both boys and girls.}, language = {en} } @misc{HoffmannSanderRattayetal., author = {Hoffmann, Stephanie and Sander, Lydia and Rattay, Petra and Blume, Miriam and H{\"o}vener, Claudia and Schneider, Sven and Richter, Matthias and Pischke, Claudia R. and Sch{\"u}ttig, Wiebke and De Bock, Freia and Spallek, Jacob}, title = {Do family characteristics contribute to a socioeconomic gradient in overweight in early childhood? - Single mediation analyses of data from German preschool children}, series = {Preventive Medicine Reports}, volume = {33}, journal = {Preventive Medicine Reports}, issn = {2211-3355}, doi = {10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102178}, abstract = {Children's overweight is strongly associated with family socioeconomic position (SEP) and family characteristics (FC). There is limited research on the extent to which FC account for a socioeconomic gradient in childhood overweight. This study examined whether FC explain SEP differences in the prevalence of overweight. The study used baseline data of preschool-aged children from the German 'PReschool INtervention Study'. The sample (n = 872, 48\% girls) was recruited at kindergartens in Baden-W{\"u}rttemberg, Germany. Data included children's measured weight status and parents' reports on socioeconomic indicators (e.g., school education, vocational education, income) and FC. Variables represent main determinants of overweight (nutrition: sweets consumption in front of TV, soft drink consumption, regular breakfast, child sets table; physical activity: outdoor sports; parental role model). In single mediation analyses indirect effects of SEP on overweight were analysed (OR[95\%CI]). Preschool girls and boys with low parental education had higher odds for overweight than children with high parental education. Among boys, low levels of parental education contributed to the odds of overweight via indirect effects by both factors 'sweets consumption in front of TV' (OR = 1.31[1.05-1.59]) and 'no sports' (OR = 1.14[1.01-1.38]). Among girls, FC measured did not explain SEP differences in overweight. Family nutrition and parental/family physical activity contribute to inequalities in overweight among preschool boys, but not girls. Research is needed to identify FC that explain inequalities in overweight for both.}, language = {en} }