Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child Population
Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease that represents one of the main preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. This study analyzes how nutritional beliefs influence eating habits and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Spanish children and adolesc...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/1/76 |
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| author | María Teresa Murillo-Llorente Alma María Palau-Ferrè María Ester Legidos-García Javier Pérez-Murillo Francisco Tomás-Aguirre Blanca Lafuente-Sarabia Adalberto Asins-Cubells Miriam Martínez-Peris Ignacio Ventura Jorge Casaña-Mohedo Marcelino Pérez-Bermejo |
| author_facet | María Teresa Murillo-Llorente Alma María Palau-Ferrè María Ester Legidos-García Javier Pérez-Murillo Francisco Tomás-Aguirre Blanca Lafuente-Sarabia Adalberto Asins-Cubells Miriam Martínez-Peris Ignacio Ventura Jorge Casaña-Mohedo Marcelino Pérez-Bermejo |
| author_sort | María Teresa Murillo-Llorente |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease that represents one of the main preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. This study analyzes how nutritional beliefs influence eating habits and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Spanish children and adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 35 educational centers in 12 Spanish provinces, with a sample of 1131 children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 years. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data were collected, and dietary habits were assessed by means of questionnaires. Statistical analyses were used to identify associations between dietary beliefs and body mass index. Results: In total, 29.5% of participants were overweight or obese. Two groups of beliefs were identified: healthier beliefs and less healthy beliefs. Children with less healthy dietary beliefs had a significantly higher BMI (22.16 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) compared to those with healthier beliefs (17.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup>). False nutritional beliefs, influenced by advertising and the family environment, contribute to overweight and obesity. Discussion: Dietary beliefs play a crucial role in determining eating habits and, therefore, the health of children. Nutrition education and public policies that promote healthy eating habits are essential to prevent childhood obesity. It is important to involve the family, the school, and the media in these efforts. Conclusions: Despite efforts, many children continue to hold erroneous nutritional beliefs that contribute to the rise in overweight and obesity. This study highlights the importance of addressing dietary beliefs and promoting appropriate nutrition education to prevent childhood obesity. It is recommended to implement educational strategies and public policies that regulate the advertising of unhealthy foods and promote healthy eating habits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6e6c1518f2c94caebb9f759a165795de |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-6e6c1518f2c94caebb9f759a165795de2025-01-24T13:27:12ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-01-011217610.3390/children12010076Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child PopulationMaría Teresa Murillo-Llorente0Alma María Palau-Ferrè1María Ester Legidos-García2Javier Pérez-Murillo3Francisco Tomás-Aguirre4Blanca Lafuente-Sarabia5Adalberto Asins-Cubells6Miriam Martínez-Peris7Ignacio Ventura8Jorge Casaña-Mohedo9Marcelino Pérez-Bermejo10SONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainSONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainSONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainSONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainSONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainSONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainCentro de Salud de L’Eliana, Departamento Arnau de Vilanova-Lliria, 46183 Valencia, SpainSONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainMolecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, SpainSONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainSONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo no. 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainBackground/Objectives: Childhood obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease that represents one of the main preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. This study analyzes how nutritional beliefs influence eating habits and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Spanish children and adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 35 educational centers in 12 Spanish provinces, with a sample of 1131 children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 years. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data were collected, and dietary habits were assessed by means of questionnaires. Statistical analyses were used to identify associations between dietary beliefs and body mass index. Results: In total, 29.5% of participants were overweight or obese. Two groups of beliefs were identified: healthier beliefs and less healthy beliefs. Children with less healthy dietary beliefs had a significantly higher BMI (22.16 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) compared to those with healthier beliefs (17.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup>). False nutritional beliefs, influenced by advertising and the family environment, contribute to overweight and obesity. Discussion: Dietary beliefs play a crucial role in determining eating habits and, therefore, the health of children. Nutrition education and public policies that promote healthy eating habits are essential to prevent childhood obesity. It is important to involve the family, the school, and the media in these efforts. Conclusions: Despite efforts, many children continue to hold erroneous nutritional beliefs that contribute to the rise in overweight and obesity. This study highlights the importance of addressing dietary beliefs and promoting appropriate nutrition education to prevent childhood obesity. It is recommended to implement educational strategies and public policies that regulate the advertising of unhealthy foods and promote healthy eating habits.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/1/76childhood obesitydietary beliefsdietary habitsnutrition educationfood advertisingpublic policy |
| spellingShingle | María Teresa Murillo-Llorente Alma María Palau-Ferrè María Ester Legidos-García Javier Pérez-Murillo Francisco Tomás-Aguirre Blanca Lafuente-Sarabia Adalberto Asins-Cubells Miriam Martínez-Peris Ignacio Ventura Jorge Casaña-Mohedo Marcelino Pérez-Bermejo Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child Population Children childhood obesity dietary beliefs dietary habits nutrition education food advertising public policy |
| title | Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child Population |
| title_full | Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child Population |
| title_fullStr | Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child Population |
| title_short | Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child Population |
| title_sort | dietary beliefs and their association with overweight and obesity in the spanish child population |
| topic | childhood obesity dietary beliefs dietary habits nutrition education food advertising public policy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/1/76 |
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