Associations Between Socioeconomic and Family Determinants and Weight-Control Behaviours among Adolescents

Objectives: Family factors may play a role in adolescents’ weight-control behaviours (WCB), and economic determinants strongly affect adolescents’ health in terms of unhealthy weight-control behaviours (UWCB). This study examines the nexus of socioeconomic status, perceived family wealth, and number of employed parents and Israeli adolescents’ WCB and asks whether family-related variables mediate WCB.

Methods: Data from the 2014 Israeli Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study are analysed using structural equation modelling.

Results: High family affluence and high perceived family wealth are negatively associated with UWCB. Having two employed parents related to lower levels of UWCB. Family-related variables such as family communication and support and parental monitoring mitigate UWCB. Family meals have a significantly positive effect on healthy weight-control behaviour (HWCB) and a significantly negative impact on unhealthy weight-control activities.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that economic factors such as socioeconomic status and number of employed parentsshould be taken into account in long-term weight-control practice. The combination of WCB and family meals is the mosteffective method for adolescents’ healthy weight-control behaviour.