Impact of family income on the lifestyle and physique of schoolchildren in Higashi‐Osaka City, Japan.

Background: There is limited evidence about the ways in which poverty affects the health and educational environment of schoolchildren. We investigated the impact of family income on the lifestyle and physique of children in Japan. Methods: We mailed a questionnaire to 1,000 fifth‐grade elementary school and 1,000 second‐grade junior high school students and their parents in Higashi‐Osaka City from August to September, 2017. Physique was evaluated based on standard body weight for height. Results: The questionnaire survey recovery rate was 31.3%. Overweight / obesity was confirmed in 8.1% of males and 3.7% of females. The prevalence of overweight / obesity was higher in children of families with incomes under the median than in families with incomes over the median only in females. The number of children with less than 1 h of studying time after school was significantly higher in children of families with incomes under the median, as well as in overweight / obese children. In children of families with incomes under the median, the rates of possessing books, exercise equipment, and their own room were lower than in children of families with incomes over the median, but there was no difference in the rates of possessing smartphones, or video games, based on income. Conclusions: Children of low‐income families have an educational handicap, which is one of the risk factors for the "chain of poverty." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]