The relation between overweight and obesity in preschool children with socioeconomic level and environment of Chilean districts: An ecological study

Objective To analyze the association between the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children younger than six years of age cared for in the primary healthcare setting with socioeconomic level and environment of Chilean districts. Methods We conducted an ecological study to analyze the correlation between the prevalence of overweight and obesity and indicators of socioeconomic status (poverty by income and multidimensional poverty) and district environment and surroundings (green areas and crime reporting rate for crimes of significant social connotation). Furthermore, we performed four simple linear regression models with the correlated variables. Results At the district level, we found that the percentage of people living in poverty as defined by income, and the rate for reporting of crimes, are significantly correlated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity. The crime reporting rate correlated negatively with prevalence, and no correlation was found with communal green areas. Those districts with greater income poverty and a lower crime reporting rate have a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in children under six years of age. Conclusions The characteristics of the district environment in which children are raised could augment the risk for overweight and obesity, mainly due to socioeconomic level. The crime reporting rate, on the contrary, shows an inverse relationship with these nutritional conditions.