Childhood overweight/obesity and social inequality in peri-urban regions of Taipei
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract
A cross-sectional analysis of 33,942 schoolchildren at 6th grade (peri-urban New Taipei, N = 25,028; urban Taipei, N = 8914), representing >50% of children population of the age in Taipei metropolitan area, was examined for the disparity in overweight/obesity prevalence between urban and expanding peri-urban regions. Overweight/obese prevalence of schoolchildren at the age level is 30.4%. Peri-urban schoolchildren had higher overweight/obesity prevalence than urban peers (Girls: 26.0% vs 20.6%, P < 0.001; Boys: 37.1% vs 33.8%, P < 0.001). Children in both regions spent substantially more time on homework/reading than television viewing and computer use. Peri-urban children spent less time on homework/reading and more time on television and computer use than their urban counterparts (P < 0.001). Children with parental education category at “No College” were 54.8% in peri-urban area against 24.8% in urban area (P < 0.001). They were 1.0 cm shorter in height and ∼1.0 kg heavier in weight, and spent less time on homework/reading than those at “College” (P < 0.001). This is the first report presents a disparity in childhood overweight/obesity prevalence between peri-urban and urban places. Public efforts are needed to solve the childhood overweight/obesity problem secondary to social inequality in places at developing stages during urbanization.
Keywords
Peri-urban, Sedentary behavior, Social disparity, Childhood obesity, Parental education, Homework
Divisions
1234
Funders
Taipei City Government, New Taipei City government, and University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
Publication Title
Habitat International
Volume
73
Publisher
Elsevier