Factors associated with overweight and obesity among primary school children in Xiamen, China: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the factors associated with overweight/obesity among children aged 6–12 years in Xiamen, China, and to provide evidence for the health management of obesity in children and adolescents.MethodsThe “Questionnaire on Lifestyle Habits of Primary School Students in Xiamen” was developed, and the questionnaire was distributed to guardians of students in two primary schools in Xiamen through the Wenjuanxing online survey platform. The children were divided into a non-overweight/obesity group and an overweight/obesity group, and statistical analyses were performed.ResultsA total of 1,524 valid questionnaires were finally collected. Multivariable analysis showed that male sex, consuming zero-calorie beverages more than twice per week and being driven to school by parents were positively associated with overweight/obesity in children, whereas eating sweets more than twice per week, a moderate meal duration (10–20 min per meal), a slow meal duration (>20 min per meal), longer outdoor activity time during holidays (>2 h/day), and accumulating at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on 2–4 days or on 5–7 days per week were inversely associated with overweight/obesity.ConclusionOverweight/obesity among school-aged children in Xiamen is associated with multiple factors, including diet, commuting mode and physical activity. Concerted efforts across the whole of society are needed to guide children towards healthy lifestyles and to improve public health.
Related
- Bullying and cyberbullying among school-aged children with obesity or overweight: results of the SOPKARD-Junior programme - a cross-sectional study
- Mother’s overweight, parents’ constant limitation on the foods and frequent snack as risk factors for obesity among children in Brazil
- Association Between Overweight and Obesity and the Occurrence of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) in Children and Adolescents Referred for Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study with Analysis of Patients’ Demographic Characteristics
- Parental health literacy and advanced bone age among school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a cross-sectional study
- Screen time, physical activity, and overweight/obesity among school-aged children and adolescents in Heilongjiang Province, China: a cross-sectional study
BibTeX
@article{qiu2026factors,
title = {{Factors associated with overweight and obesity among primary school children in Xiamen, China: a cross-sectional study}},
author = {Zhanpeng Qiu and Wei Wang and Yating Zhang and Dongsheng Qiu and Guoping Ye},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1998838},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1998838},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Factors associated with overweight and obesity among primary school children in Xiamen, China: a cross-sectional study
AU - Zhanpeng Qiu
AU - Wei Wang
AU - Yating Zhang
AU - Dongsheng Qiu
AU - Guoping Ye
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/10
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1998838
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1998838
AB - ObjectiveTo investigate the factors associated with overweight/obesity among children aged 6–12 years in Xiamen, China, and to provide evidence for the health management of obesity in children and adolescents.MethodsThe “Questionnaire on Lifestyle Habits of Primary School Students in Xiamen” was developed, and the questionnaire was distributed to guardians of students in two primary schools in Xiamen through the Wenjuanxing online survey platform. The children were divided into a non-overweight/obesity group and an overweight/obesity group, and statistical analyses were performed.ResultsA total of 1,524 valid questionnaires were finally collected. Multivariable analysis showed that male sex, consuming zero-calorie beverages more than twice per week and being driven to school by parents were positively associated with overweight/obesity in children, whereas eating sweets more than twice per week, a moderate meal duration (10–20 min per meal), a slow meal duration (>20 min per meal), longer outdoor activity time during holidays (>2 h/day), and accumulating at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on 2–4 days or on 5–7 days per week were inversely associated with overweight/obesity.ConclusionOverweight/obesity among school-aged children in Xiamen is associated with multiple factors, including diet, commuting mode and physical activity. Concerted efforts across the whole of society are needed to guide children towards healthy lifestyles and to improve public health.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -