Effects of parental economic level trajectories on children’s BMI z-score trajectories in Indonesia

Children in developing countries, including Indonesia, have an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity. Parental socioeconomic status is one of the substantial risk factors. Objectives: To examine the presence of distinct developmental trajectories of BMI z-score in Indonesian children from age 5 to age 19 and assess whether their father’s and mother’s economic level trajectories influences them. Method: This study used four waves of data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (1997-2014). Children's BMI Z-score and parental economic level trajectories were analyzed by group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM). This study also constructed multinomial logistic regression models while controlling other demographic, health, and socioeconomic characteristics. Results: Out of the 1,065 eligible children, it ends up 1,046 children for further analysis. The best model identified by the GBTM includes four trajectories for children's BMI z-score. For the parental economic level, the best-fit trajectories are the 2 group trajectories for father's and the 4 group trajectories for mother's. There was no association between father's economic level trajectories and children's BMI z-score trajectories. For mother's economic level trajectories, the increasing economic trajectory was associated with increased risk of becoming obese trajectories of children's BMI z-score. Conclusion: Overweight and obesity develop with distinguishable BMI z-score trajectories across childhood to adulthood. This work suggests that the mother's characteristics have more impact on children's development.