Table 1 Distribution of individual, familial, and neighbourhood characteristics according to obesity status (BMI ≥95 ^th percentile) among QUALITY study participants at baseline in 2005-2008

Individual characteristics

Age, years, mean (sd)

9.7 (0.9)

9.6 (0.9)

0.11^*

Sex, boys,% (n)

51.3 (60)

55.4 (219)

0.43

Puberty initiated at baseline,% (n)

33.6 (39)

21.0 (83)

0.005

Puberty initiated at follow-up,% (n)

76.8 (76)

65.8 (237)

0.04

Sugar-sweetened beverage intake >50 ml/day,% (n)^§

65.8 (75)

55.7 (214)

0.06

Meet physical activity guidelines,% (n)^§§

12.8 (12)

37.4 (127)

<0.001

BMI percentile at baseline, mean (sd)

97.8 (1.3)

60.3 (26.8)

<0.001^*

BMI percentile at follow-up, mean (sd)

96.5 (5.1)

61.2 (27.3)

<0.001^*

Familial characteristics

Household income <25000$,% (n)

26.1 (30)

15.1 (59)

0.006

Highest level of education of either parent,% (n)

 2 parents with high school degree or less

14.7 (17)

6.4 (25)

<0.001

 ≥1 parent with technical/vocational/trade school degree

47.4 (55)

35.9 (141)

 ≥1 parent with university degree

37.9 (44)

57.8 (227)

Number of parents with BMI ≥30 kg/m²,% (n)

 0

8.6 (10)

30.9 (122)

<0.001

 1

62.4 (73)

52.4 (207)

 2

29.1 (34)

16.7 (66)

Number of parents with abdominal obesity,% (n)

 0

4.3 (5)

10.1 (40)

<0.001

 1

44.4 (52)

61.8 (244)

 2

51.3 (60)

28.1 (111)

Mother’s BMI, kg/m², mean (sd)

31.9 (7.3)

28.8 (6.2)

<0.001^*

Father’s BMI, kg/m², mean (sd)

32.9 (6.2)

30.2 (5.3)

<0.001^*

Mother’s waist circumference, cm, mean (sd)

99.6 (15.6)

92.0 (13.9)

<0.001^*

Father’s waist circumference, cm, mean (sd)

111.4 (16.1)

105.2 (13.6)

<0.001^*

Neighborhood characteristics

% residents with a university degree, mean (sd)

26.6 (14.4)

29.1 (15.5)

0.12^*

Residential value, $1000, mean (sd)

204 (52)

215 (61)

0.07^*

Neighborhood prestige,% (n)

 Low

37.6 (44)

31.9 (126)

0.42

 Average

33.3 (39)

33.4 (132)

 High

29.1 (34)

34.7 (137)

% households with low income, mean (sd)

8.0 (6.6)

7.3 (6.7)

0.29^*

% single parent families, mean (sd)

16.7 (7.0)

15.3 (7.1)

0.05^*

% unemployment, mean (sd)

5.3 (2.6)

5.2 (3.0)

0.72^*

% 1 year mobility, mean (sd)

11.0 (5.2)

10.8 (5.4)

0.63^*

Home ownership, mean (sd)

67.8 (25.5)

74.5 (25.8)

0.08^*

Neighborhood disadvantage,% (n)

 Low

25.6 (30)

35.4 (140)

0.09

 Average

34.2 (40)

33.2 (131)

 High

40.2 (47)

31.4 (124)

≥1 park within 500 m,% (n)

68.4 (80)

74.9 (296)

0.16

≥1 convenience store within 500 m,% (n)

35.9 (42)

26.8 (106)

0.06

≥1 fast food restaurant within 500 m,% (n)

17.1 (20)

11.9 (47)

0.14