July 30, 2025
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Article

Overweight, Obesity, and Lifestyle Behaviors in Immigrants and Native Children in Madrid-ASOMAD Study

Publicated to: Nutrients. 17 (12): 2041- - 2025-06-19 17(12), DOI: 10.3390/nu17122041

Authors:

Nehari, Asmaa; Portals-Riomao, Alicia; Quesada-Gonzalez, Carlos; Zapico, Augusto G; Gesteiro, Eva; Gonzalez-Gross, Marcela
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Affiliations

Carlos III Hlth Inst, Biomed Res Ctr Pathophysiol Obes & Nutr CIBEROBN, Madrid 28029, Spain - Author
EXERNET, Phys Exercise & Hlth Res Network, Zaragoza 18016, Spain - Author
Univ Complutense Madrid, Dept Language Arts & Phys Educ, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Dept Hlth & Human Performance, ImFINE Res Grp, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Dept Math Appl Informat & Commun Technol, Madrid 28031, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Overweight and obesity (OW/OB) in immigrant children is a complex multifactorial issue. This work aims to present the OW/OB profile and lifestyle habits of immigrant children and compare them with their native counterparts. Methods: A cross-sectional study (ASOMAD) was conducted in a representative sample of children aged 8-12 years in Madrid from 2020 to 2023. Parental origin, physical activity (PA), screen time, adherence to Mediterranean Diet, sleep, and body composition were assessed by validated methods. OW/OB was determined according to IOTF guidelines. T-tests, chi-square tests, and two-way ANOVA tests were applied based on the variables' characteristics. Results: A total of 587 children (54% boys, aged 9.54 +/- 1.19 y), 33.2% immigrants, were studied. OW/OB rate was higher in immigrants (39.7% boys and 37.4% girls) than in natives (18.0% boys and 17.7% girls) (p < 0.05). Immigrant boys were 30.64 +/- 8.39 min/day less active than natives (p < 0.001). Both male and female immigrant children devoted considerably more weekday hours to screen time than natives (2.76 +/- 2.75; 2.02 +/- 2.47 vs. 2.09 +/- 2.29; 1.32 +/- 1.38; p < 0.05, respectively). Immigrant children consumed significantly less fish and olive oil and more pasta or rice almost every day (5 or more/week), ate at fast-food restaurants, consumed fewer dairy products and baked goods or pastries for breakfast (p < 0.05), and exhibited worse diet quality compared to Spanish ones. Conclusions: Immigrant children exhibited a higher prevalence of OW/OB, higher screen time, lower PA time, and ate less fish and olive oil and more pasta than natives. Additional research is required to explore the causes of these issues and enhance the lifestyle within this group.
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Keywords

AdolescentBody compositionBody-mass indexChildChildhood obesityCross-sectional studiesDiet, mediterraneanEmigrants and immigrantsExerciseFemaleGender-differencesHumansImmigrantsLife styleMaleMediterranean dietOverweightPediatric obesityPhysical activity and lifestylPhysical activity and lifestylePhysical-activityScreen timeSedentary behaviorSleepSleep durationSpainUs immigrantWeight status

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Nutrients due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 17/113, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Nutrition & Dietetics.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-04-27:

  • WoS: 1
  • Scopus: 1
  • Europe PMC: 1
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Impact and social visibility

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/92027/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 52
  • Downloads: 37
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (NEHARI NEHARI, ASMAA) and Last Author (GONZALEZ GROSS, MARIA MARCELA).

the authors responsible for correspondence tasks have been NEHARI NEHARI, ASMAA and GESTEIRO ALEJOS, EVA.

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Project objectives

Los objetivos perseguidos en esta aportación se centran en analizar el perfil de sobrepeso y obesidad (OW/OB) y los hábitos de vida de niños inmigrantes en comparación con niños nativos en Madrid. Se pretende determinar la prevalencia de OW/OB en ambos grupos según las guías IOTF. Otro objetivo es evaluar las diferencias en actividad física diaria y tiempo frente a pantallas entre niños inmigrantes y nativos. Además, se busca caracterizar la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y los patrones de consumo alimentario, incluyendo pescado, aceite de oliva, pasta, productos lácteos y alimentos de desayuno. Finalmente, se pretende identificar las diferencias en calidad dietética y composición corporal para informar futuras investigaciones y estrategias de mejora en estilos de vida.
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Most relevant results

El estudio ASOMAD analizó el perfil de sobrepeso y obesidad (OW/OB) y los hábitos de vida en niños inmigrantes y nativos de Madrid entre 2020 y 2023. Los resultados más relevantes son: (1) la tasa de OW/OB fue significativamente mayor en niños inmigrantes (39.7% en niños y 37.4% en niñas) que en nativos (18.0% en niños y 17.7% en niñas) (p < 0.05); (2) los niños inmigrantes presentaron 30.64 ± 8.39 minutos menos de actividad física diaria que los nativos (p < 0.001); (3) ambos sexos inmigrantes dedicaron más horas diarias a pantallas en días laborables (2.76 ± 2.75 y 2.02 ± 2.47) que los nativos (2.09 ± 2.29 y 1.32 ± 1.38) (p < 0.05); (4
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Awards linked to the item

This research was supported by the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid by means of an agreement with the Sports Delegation of the Madrid City Council (Project Number P2211600345). Additional funding from Red EXERNET-RED DE EJERCICIO FISICO Y SALUD (RED2022-134800-T) Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (Ministerio de Ciencias e Innovacion); Red de Ejercicio Fisico y Salud EXERNET (EXP 99828), Redes de Investigacion en Ciencias del Deporte, Consejo Superior de Deportes (Ministerio de Educacion, Formacion Profesional y Deportes), and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III through CIBEROBN, which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
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