Socioeconomic position and overweight among adolescents: data from birth cohort studies in Brazil and the UK

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Developed and developing countries are facing rapid increases in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. The patterns of overweight/obesity differ by age, sex, rural or urban residence and socioeconomic position (SEP) and vary between and within countries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated patterns of SEP – overweight status association among adolescents from the UK (ALSPAC) and Brazil (the 1982 and 1993 Pelotas birth cohort studies).</p> <p>All analyses were performed separately for males and females. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between overweight status and two SEP indicators – family income and maternal education.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A strong positive association was observed in 11-year-old boys from the 1993 Pelotas cohort, with higher prevalence of overweight among the least poor and among those whose mothers had more years of schooling (<it>x</it>²for linear trend p < 0.001). In ALSPAC study higher prevalence of overweight was seen among boys whose mothers had lower educational achievement (<it>x</it>²for linear trend p = 0.006). Among 11 year-old girls from 1993 Pelotas cohort study there was a positive association (higher prevalence of overweight in the higher socioeconomic and educational strata, <it>x</it>²for linear trend p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively) while an inverse association was found in the ALSPAC study (<it>x</it>²for linear trend p < 0.001). Among males from the 1982 cohort study, overweight at 18 years of age showed a positive association with both SEP indicators while among females, the reverse association was found.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this study demonstrate that the social patterning of overweight varies between and within populations over time. Specific approaches should be developed within populations in order to contain the obesity epidemic and reduce disparities.</p

Potential determinants of obesity among children and adolescents in Germany: results from the cross-sectional KiGGS study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity among children and adolescents is a growing public health problem. The aim of the present paper is to identify potential determinants of obesity and risk groups among 3- to 17-year old children and adolescents to provide a basis for effective prevention strategies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were collected in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS), a nationally representative and comprehensive data set on health behaviour and health status of German children and adolescents. Body height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was classified according to IOTF cut-off points. Statistical analyses were conducted on 13,450 non-underweight children and adolescents aged 3 to 17 years. The association between overweight, obesity and several potential determinants was analysed for this group as well as for three socio-economic status (SES) groups. A multiple logistic regression model with obesity as the dependent variable was also calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The strongest association with obesity was observed for parental overweight and for low SES. Furthermore, a positive association with both overweight (including obesity) and obesity was seen for maternal smoking during pregnancy, high weight gain during pregnancy (only for mothers of normal weight), high birth weight, and high media consumption. In addition, high intakes of meat and sausages, total beverages, water and tea, total food and beverages, as well as energy-providing food and beverages were significantly associated with overweight as well as with obesity. Long sleep time was negatively associated with obesity among 3- to 10-year olds. Determinants of obesity occurred more often among children and adolescents with low SES.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Parental overweight and a low SES are major potential determinants of obesity. Families with these characteristics should be focused on in obesity prevention.</p

Relação entre índice ponderal ao nascer e excesso de peso corporal em jovens The correlation between birth weight index and excess weight in young individuals

A identificação de fatores de risco modificáveis para obesidade mostra-se fundamental para sua prevenção, como o inadequado crescimento intra-uterino. O presente estudo verificou a relação entre nutrição ao nascer e sobrepeso em jovens. Avaliaram-se 287 indivíduos com média (desvio-padrão) de 15,2 (1,4) anos. Para diagnóstico nutricional ao nascer, utilizou-se o índice ponderal e, para o atual, índice de massa corporal (IMC), circunferência da cintura e composição corporal. Verificou-se, para os meninos, associação positiva entre índice ponderal e sobrepeso (p = 0,05) e excesso de gordura abdominal (p = 0,04). Para as meninas, houve associação negativa entre índice ponderal e comprimento ao nascer (p = 0,00) e quantidade de massa muscular (p = 0,01). Meninas de menor índice ponderal apresentaram maior quantidade de gordura corporal total e abdominal, enquanto as de maior índice ponderal apresentaram valores inferiores de estatura final (p = 0,09). Pode-se sugerir que indivíduos pertencentes aos extremos de índice ponderal enquadram-se em categoria de risco para obesidade futura, relação que se mostrou mais evidente para o extremo superior, no sexo masculino, e inferior, no feminino.<br>Identification of modifiable risk factors for obesity has proven crucial for its prevention, for example inadequate intrauterine growth. The current study verified the relationship between nutritional status at birth and overweight in youth. A total of 287 individuals were evaluated, with a mean age of 15.2 years (SD 1.4). Nutritional status at birth was based on the birth weight index, and current status was based on BMI, waist circumference, and body composition. In boys there was a positive association between weight index and overweight (p = 0.05) and excess abdominal fat (p = 0.04). For girls, there was a negative association between weight index and length at birth (p = 0.00) and amount of muscle mass (p = 0.01). Girls with lower weight index presented a higher amount of total body and abdominal fat, while those with higher weight index presented lower final height (p = 0.09). The results suggest that individuals with extreme weight indices are at risk for future obesity, especially at the upper extreme for males and the lower extreme for females