The relationship between low maternal education level and children's overweight in the Korean society

SummaryThis study was conducted to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status of family and children's adiposity in the Korean society. Data were obtained from 429 2nd-grade students of elementary schools in Gwacheon, Korea in 2006. Body mass index, body fat percentage and waist circumference were measured as indices of children's adiposity. Parental educational level and total household income were surveyed as markers of SES of family. The maternal education level was most closely related to children's overweight among marker of SES. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of low-educated mother on the children's overweight was 2.67 (95% CI: 1.21–5.89). Increased OR of low-educated mother on children's overweight was observed only in low-income families [adjusted OR: 6.14 (95% CI: 1.94–19.46)]. This study showed that low maternal education level was significantly related to children's overweight in the current Korean society. However, this relationship between the maternal education level and children's overweight was observed only in low-income families.