RESEARCH ARTICLE Influences of socioeconom h f

Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleOverweight in children and adolescents is considered to be a significant global public health concern as the prevalence is already high and continues to increase. As shown in recent studies, during the past 30 years, over-weight had more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents [1,2]. In 2010, over one third of children and adolescents were obese [2]. Similarly, from 1997 to 2005, the prevalence of overweight among all children and figures are alarming, since overweight heightens the risk of adverse physical health outcomes, causes negative psychosocial consequences, and increases the likelihood of excessive weight in adulthood [4]. In this regard, the prevention of overweight in children and adolescents is essential and requires an understanding of possible causative factors. Over the years, the influencing factors in the develop-ment of overweight, genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and socioeconomic variables have been discussed [5]. Recently, important parental characteristics that might impact child-hood and adolescent overweight have been recognized a