The Association between Stress and Children’s Weight Status: A School-Based, Epidemiological Study
Aikaterini Kanellopoulou,
Christina Vassou,
Ekaterina N. Kornilaki,
Venetia Notara,
George Antonogeorgos,
Andrea Paola Rojas-Gil,
Areti Lagiou,
Mary Yannakoulia,
Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos
Affiliations
Aikaterini Kanellopoulou
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece
Christina Vassou
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece
Ekaterina N. Kornilaki
Department of Preschool Education, School of Education, University of Crete, 74100 Rethimno, Greece
Venetia Notara
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
George Antonogeorgos
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece
Andrea Paola Rojas-Gil
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Peloponnese, 22100 Tripoli, Greece
Areti Lagiou
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Mary Yannakoulia
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece
Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece
Given the evidence on how stress affects weight status in children, this research examined this association among Greek students aged 10–12 years old. Overall, 1452 children and their parents from several urban areas participated in an observational study conducted during the period 2014–2016. Participants completed validated questionnaires. International Obesity Task Force guidelines were used for children’s weight status classification. Descriptive statistics and nested logistic regression models were used. Multivariate correspondence analysis was also used to construct a score to evaluate the children’s stress levels. The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity was 27%. More than 80% of the children appeared to have a medium or high level of stress, mainly due to the school environment. School-related stress increased the odds of obesity in children. The association between stress and overweight/obesity status showed a consistent trend (adjusted odds ratios varied from 1.44 to 1.52, p-values < 0.01). Children’s weight status was associated with several school-related stressors. Although the school environment may play an aggravating role in the weight status of children, family plays a catalyst role in this direction. Therefore, actions have to be promoted in the school community so that children become more health literate on a public health level.
