Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of the total study population and according to child’s weight status (n = 5913)

Socio-demographic characteristics

Child’s sex

Girl (%)

50.3

48.5

58.7

<0.001

Child’s age (years)

(Median, 90% range)

6.0 (5.7-7.4)

6.0 (5.7-7.2)

6.1 (5.8-7.8)

<0.001

Child’s ethnic background

Dutch (%)

56.1

59.8

38.9

<0.001

Other-western (%)

9.1

9.2

8.4

Non-western (%)

34.8

31.0

52.7

Maternal educational level

High (%)

27.2

29.5

15.6

<0.001

Mid-high (%)

27.2

28.3

21.7

Mid-low (%)

32.2

30.7

39.7

Low (%)

13.4

11.5

23.0

Maternal employment status

No paid job (%)

25.2

23.7

33.3

<0.001

Household income

<€1600/$2166 per month (%)

17.6

16.1

25.7

<0.001

Single parenthood

Single parent (%)

14.9

14.0

19.6

<0.001

Parental anthropometric measures

Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m²)

(Mean, SD)

23.6 (4.2)

23.1 (3.8)

25.9 (5.2)

<0.001

Paternal BMI (kg/m²)

(Mean, SD)

25.3 (3.5)

24.9 (3.2)

27.1 (4.1)

<0.001

Child anthropometric measures

Weight (kg)

(Mean, SD)

23.3 (4.3)

22.1 (2.8)

29.1 (5.1)

<0.001

Height (cm)

(Mean, SD)

119.6 (6.0)

119.0 (5.7)

122.3 (6.6)

<0.001

BMI SDS

(Mean, SD)

0.3 (0.9)

−0.0 (0.7)

1.7 (0.6)

<0.001

Fat mass (%)

(Mean, SD)

25.0 (5.7)

23.3 (4.1)

32.7 (5.6)

<0.001

Child sedentary behaviors

Television viewing

≥ 2 hours/day (%)

19.9

18.5

27.6

<0.001

Computer game use

≥ 1 hour/day (%)

7.6

7.5

8.2

0.53

Child physical activity behaviors

Outdoor play

< 1 hour/day (%)

34.5

33.4

41.0

<0.001

Sport participation

No (%)

55.6

54.5

60.8

<0.01

Active transport

<5 days/week (%)

57.4

58.9

49.3

<0.001