Weight status, eating and sedentary behaviours in Maltese pre-school children living in a high-risk poverty area

Abstract

Introduction: Early eating behavioural traits could contribute to development of weight problems later in life. Evidence suggests children living in higher-poverty areas are at higher risk of overweight and obesity. The main objective was to investigate possible associations between weight status, eating and sedentary behaviours in pre-school children living in an area of high-poverty risk.

Materials and Methods: The children (3–4 years) and their parents living in a school district which is classified as being at a high risk of poverty were invited to participate for the study. Following consent, they were interviewed by telephone using The Child Eating Behaviours Questionnaire (CEBQ) in 2018. The CEBQ utilises a five-point Likert scale with scores computed for different eating behaviours. Anthropometric measures on the children were carried out in the schools.