Associations between weight status and home environment of Lithuanian first-graders

Introduction/Aim: Childhood overweight is related to family environment and attitudes, therefore the aim of this presentation is to evaluate associations between weight status of first-graders and their home environment. Methodology: The preliminary results of the data collected participating in the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative in 2016 is presented. Our target population were 5800 Lithuanian first-graders and their parents. Data about 4203 children were collected. Anthropometric measurements of first-graders (6-9 years old) were performed. BMI of children was evaluated using IOTF cut-offs (2000). Family questionnaires were addressed to parents. Associations between weight status and home environment were analyzed using binary logistic regression where overweight (including obesity) was independent variable. Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among first-graders was respectively 13.4% and 6.6%. Smaller likelihood of being overweight had children whose parents encouraged child to eat healthy foods before unhealthy ones (OR 1.333, CI 1.058- 1.596) and those children whose parents allowed them to eat snacks whenever she/he wanted (OR 1.709, CI 1.404-2.079). Greater likelihood of being overweight (including obesity) had children whose parents were guiding them not to eat too much their favourite foods (OR 1.794, CI 1.431-2.250) and haven’t forced to eat if their child was not hungry (OR 2.594, CI 2.116- 3.181). Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among first-graders in Lithuania was not high compared to other European countries. Most families intended to create positive home environment for first-graders