Contextual Influences on Childhood Obesity: A Comparative Study Between Turkish and Portuguese Children
Keywords:
Exercise, Children, Body mass index, Cultural influences, HealthAbstract
Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern worldwide, with various contextual factors playing a role in its prevalence. This study aims to investigate and compare body mass index (BMI) in Turkish and Portuguese children, exploring the potential influences of contextual variables; A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with a sample of school-aged children (6 to 10 years old) from both countries. Key indicators such as body mass index (BMI), age, gender, and participation in physical activities. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in BMI, height, and weight between the two groups (p≤0.001), underscoring the impact of cultural, environmental, and socioeconomic factors on children’s health. This study emphasizes the significant disparities in anthropometric indicators (i.e., BMI, height and weight) between Turkish and Portuguese children. These differences highlight the influence of various contextual factors, including cultural, environmental and socioeconomic elements, on childhood obesity.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Luís Branquinho, Nelson Valente, Bekir Erhan Orhan, Umut Canli
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