{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,2]],"date-time":"2025-10-02T16:15:36Z","timestamp":1759421736202,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":112,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,2]],"date-time":"2025-10-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759363200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Diseases"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objective: Childhood obesity and mental health disorders in preschool-aged children represent critical public health challenges with a rising global prevalence, closely linked to lifestyle behaviors and the family environment. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the combined influence of maternal sociodemographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric characteristics, and lifestyle factors on the physical and mental health status of preschool-aged children. Methods: Validated questionnaires were administered to assess dietary habits, psychosocial parameters (depression, anxiety, stress), and sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and anthropometric variables among 200 preschool-aged children and their mothers, who served as the primary informants. Results: Maternal obesity was associated with a higher prevalence of childhood overweight\/obesity (36.7% vs. 18.5% in children of non-obese mothers, p = 0.009). Maternal psychological factors, specifically depressive symptoms (B = 0.998, OR = 2.712, 95% CI: 1.222\u20136.020, p = 0.014) and anxiety (B = 1.676, OR = 5.346, 95% CI: 2.471\u201311.565, p &lt; 0.001), were independently associated with an increased likelihood of child anxiety. Anthropometric measures, including waist circumference (p = 0.032) and hip circumference (p = 0.031), primarily influenced children\u2019s physical health, whereas maternal psychological factors predominantly affected their emotional well-being. Conclusions: The findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions focusing on enhancing maternal nutrition and mental health literacy, aiming to promote healthy dietary patterns, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors. Such interventions are pivotal for preventing childhood obesity and fostering overall well-being at the population level.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diseases13100327","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,2]],"date-time":"2025-10-02T15:07:48Z","timestamp":1759417668000},"page":"327","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Association of Maternal Sociodemographic, Anthropometric, and Lifestyle Factors with Childhood Anthropometric Measures and Anxiety Symptoms: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study of Preschool-Aged Children in Greece"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Exakousti-Petroula","family":"Angelakou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Athina","family":"Spyrilioti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Statistics and Actuarial-Financial Mathematics, School of Sciences, University of the Aegean, 83200 Samos, Greece"},{"name":"Department of Education, University of Nicosia, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus"},{"name":"Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Tsiakara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Preschool Education Sciences and Educational Design, School of Humanities, University of the Aegean, 85100 Rhodes, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Vasilakaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Preschool Education Sciences and Educational Design, School of Humanities, University of the Aegean, 85100 Rhodes, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2878-4831","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Constantinos","family":"Giaginis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, July 13). 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