The Influences of Parental Factors on Children’s BMI Z-score Trajectories in Indonesia, 1997-2014

This dissertation combines two significant studies conducted in Indonesia, focusing on the influences of parental BMI and family socioeconomic status on the BMI trajectories of Indonesian children, with a particular emphasis on gender differences and economic factors.
The first study highlights a global increase in childhood obesity, also evident in Indonesia, and investigates the impact of parental BMI values on their children's BMI trajectories. Utilizing data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS), the study followed children aged 5–12 years across four time points, from 1997–1998 to 2014–2015. A two-level growth curve model revealed a significant influence of fathers' BMI Z-scores on the BMI trajectories of female children and mothers' BMI Z-scores on male children. The findings underscore the importance of parental BMI in the early stages of life in shaping children's future BMI trajectories.
The second study addresses the interplay between childhood nutrition status and family socioeconomic status in Indonesia. Analyzing data from 846 children from 1997 to 2015, the research identified three distinct family economic trajectories: stable poorest, stable middle, and increasing richest. The study found a notable association between family economic trajectories and children's BMI, particularly in male children. Boys from families with increasing wealth were more likely to be overweight or obese compared to those from stable poorest families.
Both studies collectively emphasize the need for gender-specific and socioeconomic-sensitive intervention strategies to combat childhood obesity and malnutrition in Indonesia. They highlight the significance of parental BMI and family economic status in shaping children's BMI trajectories, underscoring the complexity of addressing childhood obesity in diverse socioeconomic contexts.