Öz
Aim: This study aimed to determine how the overweight/obesity of adolescents is related to the educational levels of mothers by taking into account the variables of body mass indices and body fat ratio. Data on maternal education level were obtained through self-report.
Methods: The research was carried out from 9 primary schools determined by the cluster method from the city of Turkey/Ankara, which were randomly selected and included in the research; (n=1290) 52,86% were male; (n=1150) A total of 2440 adolescent students, 47,14% of whom were female, participated voluntarily. Body mass index calculation and skinfold measurement were made. Assumption of normality Shapiro Wilk test and kurtosis skew value ±1,5 were taken into account, assumption of normality was met, t test was used to compare one-group mean, One-Way ANOVA (Posth Dec: Tukey HSD) was used to compare three or more group mean, and the relationship between continuous variables was evaluated by pearson correlation test. In the univariate analysis, significant variables were examined by linear regression analysis.
Results: While there was no significant relationship between maternal education level and body mass index of adolescent girls in the research group, it was observed that body fat percentages increased in those with skinfold thickness below and above 35 mm. In addition, decreases were observed in the body mass index of male adolescents as the educational level of the mothers in the study group increased. However, in adolescents with skinfold thickness over 35 mm; As maternal education level increases, body fat percentages also increase, and this effect was not found to be significant in those with skinfold thickness below 35 mm (p<0,05).
Conclusion: The data obtained show that the level of maternal education affects the likelihood of obesity in men and women with a skin thickness of more than 35mm. It is thought that the findings of our study will contribute to the determination of strategies to prevent overweight/obesity before adulthood.