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Research ArticleOriginal Research

Food Intake Compared to Exercise Association with Obesity in Children Ages 3–6

David Bedell, Tim Sevcik, Jeanette M. Daly and Barcey T. Levy
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine November 2022, jabfm.2022.220159R1; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2022.220159R1
David Bedell
From Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa (DB, TS, JMD, BTL).
MD
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Tim Sevcik
From Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa (DB, TS, JMD, BTL).
MD
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Jeanette M. Daly
From Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa (DB, TS, JMD, BTL).
RN, PhD
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Barcey T. Levy
From Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa (DB, TS, JMD, BTL).
PhD, MD
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  • Article
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  • References
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Article Figures & Data

Tables

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    Table 1.

    Demographic Characteristics of Children and Parents Based on the Medical Record

    CharacteristicsResults, n (%)
    Children
     Age (n = 37)
      3 years9 (24.3)
      4 years7 (18.9)
      5 years10 (27.0)
      6 years11 (29.7)
      Mean = 4.6 (SD = 1.2)37 (100)
     Sex (n = 37)
      Male24 (64.9)
      Female13 (35.1)
     Race (n = 37)
      Black2 (5.4)
      Hispanic of undetermined race10 (17.0)
      White24 (64.8)
      Multiracial1 (2.7)
     Ethnicity (n = 37)
      Hispanic11 (29.7)
      Non-Hispanic26 (70.3)
    Parent’s Demographics
     Education mother (n = 31)
      High school or less12 (38.7)
      College or more19 (61.3)
     Education father (n = 26)
      High school or less12 (46.2)
      College or more14 (53.8)
     Mean (SD), Range
      Mother’s age at time of child’s birth27.9 (4.8), 17–40
    • Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation.

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    Table 2.

    Parental Perceptions of Child’s Weight, Nutritional Quantity/Quality, Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, and Calories and Steps Per Day

    Parental Perceptionn (%)
    Child’s weight (n = 37)
     Underweight0
     Healthy33 (89.2)
     Overweight3 (8.1)
     Obese0
    No answer1 (2.7)
    Amount of food child eats (n = 37)
     Inadequate0
     Adequate36 (97.3)
     Excessive1 (2.7)
    Nutritional quality of food child eats (n = 37)
     Poor0
     Fair7 (18.9)
     Good24 (64.9)
     Excellent6 (16.2)
    Child’s physical activity level (n = 37)
     Inadequate1 (2.7)
     Adequate25 (67.6)
     Excessive10 (27.0)
     No response1 (2.7)
    Safe areas near home to play outside (n = 37)
     Yes37 (100)
     No0
    Age-adjusted BMI percentile categories (n = 37)
     Underweight (<5th percentile)1 (2.7)
     Healthy (5th percentile to < 85th percentile)24 (64.9)
     Overweight (85th percentile to <95th percentile)5 (13.5)
     Obese (≥95th percentile)7 (18.9)
     BMI percentile (n = 37)60.2 (31.5) 4 to 99
    Mean (Range)
     Non-home cooked meals eaten per week (n = 36)2 meals (0 to 4 meals)
     Hours per day child spends in front of a screen (computer, TV, phone, tablet) (n = 37)1.6 hours (0 to 4 hours)
     Steps per day (n = 34)19450 (4205 to 14551)
     Calories per day21405 (732 to 2186)
     Day 1 average (n = 36)1375 (506 to 2446)
     Day 2 average (n = 24)1440 (827 to 2098)
    • Abbreviation: BMI, body mass index.

    • ↵1Average of 4 days or 5 days of step count as measured by Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2.

    • ↵2 As measured by average of calories from ASA24 dietary recall surveys.

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    Table 3.

    Comparison of Variables in Children by Obesity Status and by Ethnicity Non-Hispanic Column for Ease of Understanding

    Children without Overweight/obesity1Children with Overweight/obesity2Non-HispanicHispanic
    Variablen (%)n (%)P value3n (%)n (%)P value3
    Ethnicity (n = 37)
     Hispanic5 (20%)6 (50%)0.0624
     Non-Hispanic20 (80%)6 (50%)
    Mean (SD)Mean (SD)Mean (SD)Mean (SD)
    Daily step average (n = 34)10038 (2599)8038 (2685)0.0519264 (2832)9964 (2566)0.520
    Calories/day (n = 36)1429 (387)1369 (492)0.9801527 (401)1127 (319)0.0095
    Calories/cm height/day (n = 36)12.8 (3.54)12.8 (4.94)0.99013.9 (3.96)10.24 (2.73)0.008
    Percent of expected calories consumed/ day controlled for age, and sex6  (n = 36)101 (27)95 (29)0.521105 (27)83 (21)0.038
    Percent of expected calories consumed/ day controlled for age, sex and  activity level7 (n = 36)106 (31)110 (36)0.750113 (32)90 (28)0.065
    Non-home cooked meals/week (n = 36)2.02 (0.99)1.36 (1.10)0.0791.96 (1.04)1.38 (1.07)0.146
    Mom’s Age at Child’s Birth (n = 35)28.52 (5.39)26.75 (3.17)0.30428.7 (4.63)26.2 (4.83)0.149
    Parental estimate of screen time/day  (n = 37)1.74 (0.78)1.50 (1.07)0.27051.62 (0.57)1.78 (1.39)0.8115
    • Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; SD, standard deviation.

    • ↵1 Age-adjusted BMI percentile < 85th percentile.

    • ↵2 Age-adjusted BMI Percentile ≥ 85th percentile.

    • ↵3 P value refers to t test statistic unless otherwise marked.

    • ↵4 Fisher exact test.

    • ↵5 Wilcoxon ranked sum used due to nonnormal distributions.

    • ↵6 Based on US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommendations controlling for age and sex: (Actual Intake – Expected Intake)/Expected Intake × 100.

    • ↵7 Based on USDA recommendations controlling for age, sex, and activity level: (Actual Intake – Expected Intake)/Expected Intake × 100.

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The Journal of the American Board of Family     Medicine: 38 (1)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Vol. 38, Issue 1
January-February 2025
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Food Intake Compared to Exercise Association with Obesity in Children Ages 3–6
David Bedell, Tim Sevcik, Jeanette M. Daly, Barcey T. Levy
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Nov 2022, jabfm.2022.220159R1; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.220159R1

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Food Intake Compared to Exercise Association with Obesity in Children Ages 3–6
David Bedell, Tim Sevcik, Jeanette M. Daly, Barcey T. Levy
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Nov 2022, jabfm.2022.220159R1; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.220159R1
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