ERIC Number: EJ1331134
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Feb
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1090-1981
EISSN: N/A
Inverse Association between Health Literacy and Obesity among Children in Greece: A School-Based, Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study
Kanellopoulou, Aikaterini; Notara, Venetia; Antonogeorgos, George; Chrissini, Maria; Rojas-Gil, Andrea Paola; Kornilaki, Ekaterina N.; Lagiou, Areti; Panagiotakos, Demosthenes B.
Health Education & Behavior, v49 n1 p54-65 Feb 2022
Children's health literacy is a crucial pillar of health. This study is aimed to examine the association between health literacy and weight status among Greek schoolchildren aged 10 to 12 years old. A population-based, cross-sectional observational study enrolling 1,728 students (795 boys), aged 10 to 12 years old, was conducted during school years 2014-2016. A health literacy index (range 0-100) was created through an item response theory hybrid model, by combining a variety of beliefs and perceptions of children about health. The mean health literacy score was 70.4 (±18.7). The majority of children (63.8%) had a "high" level (i.e., >67/100) of health literacy, 30.5% had a "medium" level (i.e., 34-66/100) of health literacy, while a small proportion of children (5.7%) had a "low" level (i.e., <33/100). Girls exhibited a higher level of health literacy than boys (71.7 ± 18.3 vs. 68.8 ± 19.1, p < 0.01). Regarding body weight status, 21.7% of children was overweight and 5.0% was obese. Linear regression models showed that the health literacy score was inversely associated with children's body mass index (regression coefficient [95% CI]: -0.010 [-0.018, -0.001]), after adjusting for dietary habits, physical activity levels, and other potential confounders. Health literacy seems to be a dominant characteristic of children's weight status; therefore, school planning, as well as public health policy actions should emphasize on the ability of children's capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Child Health, Knowledge Level, Health Behavior, Body Weight, Obesity, Preadolescents, Gender Differences, Correlation, Body Composition, Eating Habits, Elementary School Students, Grade 5, Grade 6, Physical Activity Level, Parent Background, Educational Attainment
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 5; Intermediate Grades; Middle Schools; Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Greece
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A