Social class, social support and obesity risk in children

  1. L. B. GERALD1,*,
  2. A. ANDERSON1,
  3. G. D. JOHNSON1,
  4. C. HOFF2,
  5. R. F. TRIMM2

Article first published online: 27 APR 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.1994.tb00377.x

Issue

Child: Care, Health and Development

Child: Care, Health and Development

Volume 20, Issue 3, pages 145–163, May 1994

Additional Information

How to Cite

GERALD, L. B., ANDERSON, A., JOHNSON, G. D., HOFF, C. and TRIMM, R. F. (1994), Social class, social support and obesity risk in children. Child: Care, Health and Development, 20: 145–163. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.1994.tb00377.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Departments of Sociology and Anthropology

  2. 2

    Paediatrics, University of South Alabama, Alabama, USA

*L. B. Gerald, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, Al 36688, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 APR 2006
  2. Article first published online: 27 APR 2006
  3. Accepted for publication 15 November 1993

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (905K)

Keywords:

  • social environment;
  • predictor;
  • obesity;
  • social support

Summary Selected characteristics of the social environment are tested as predictors of children's risk for obesity. Data were collected during the summer of 1991 at the University of South Alabama Springhill Paediatric Clinic (Mobile, AL, USA). Data were collected on 77 children, aged 2·5–5 years, and their primary caretaker. Obesity risk was measured by the child's weight for height score and calorie intake. Caretaker's socio-economic status, marital status, and social support predict children's obesity risk for this sample. Lower social class position, lower expressive social support, and unmarried status of the caretaker are associated with a higher calorie intake and a higher weight for height score in the child.

Get PDF (905K)