Social inequalities in overweight and obesity in 26 European countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Charafeddine ◽  
S Demarest ◽  
S Drieskens ◽  
F Renard
Keyword(s):  
Weight Status ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Consistent Pattern ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Reverse Inequality ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Low Educated

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown inequalities in overweight and obesity in disfavor of the socially disadvantaged groups. This study examines the extent of these inequalities in 26 European countries. Methods Data from the 2017 EU Statistics on Income and living Conditions (EU-SILC) were used (18 years and older, n = 482,595). A body mass index of 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2 was classified as overweight and 30.0 and more as obese. Educational level (EL) was used as socioeconomic indicator. Generalized linear models were fitted to compute low-versus high absolute (RD) and relative (RR) inequality. Absolute inequality amplitude (RDA) was calculated as RD/Prevalence. Results Among men, average EU inequalities for overweight were slightly in disfavor of the low educated (RR = 1.05, RDA=5%). A mixed inequality pattern was observed across countries, as the risk of overweight was higher among high educated men in most Eastern countries, in contrast to other parts of Europe (RR from 0.74 to 1.19, RDA from -27% to 20%). Male obesity showed more pronounced inequalities (RR = 1.22, RDA=18%), and a consistent pattern of higher risk among the low educated and wide variation across countries (RR from 1.20 to 2.18, RDA from 16% to 49%). Among women, significant inequalities in overweight were observed (RR = 1.23, RDA=21%), with a consistent pattern of higher risk among the lowest EL, and substantial variation across countries (RR from 1.06 to 1.53, RDA from 7% to 36%). Inequalities were even larger for female obesity, with average RR and RDA reaching 1.49 and 35%, and wider variation (RR from 1.35 to 2.77, RDA from 12% to 88%). Conclusions Social inequalities in weight status are widespread in Europe, but vary substantially between countries. Inequalities are larger among women. For male overweight, a reverse inequality is observed in most Eastern countries. This study allows countries to benchmark the inequalities observed nationally to the situation in other EU countries. Key messages Social inequalities in weight status are widespread in Europe. The pattern of social inequalities in overweight and obesity varies substantially by country and gender.

scholarly journals Body weight status of children aged 7 to 9 in France since 2000: evolution and associated factors

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salanave Benoit ◽  
Szego Emmanuelle ◽  
Verdot Charlotte ◽  
Deschamps Valérie
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Priority Area ◽  
First Time

AbstractIntroductionOverweight and obesity are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases and their prevalence is spreading in high-income countries. However, in France, after an increase among children until 2000, a stabilization of overweight was observed in two national studies conducted by The French Public Health Agency in 2000 and 2007. The study was renewed in 2016 as part of the Children Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) of the WHO regional office for Europe. This work describes the evolution of the prevalence of overweight among children during the period and the relation between overweight and associated factors in 2016.Materials and methodsThe three studies, conducted according to a similar protocol, concerned pupils aged 7 to 9, in primary schools randomly selected throughout the metropolitan area. Weight and height of the children were measured by the nursing staff of the ministry of Education. A self-questionnaire completed by the parents collected sociodemographic characteristics. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was calculated according to the thresholds of the International Obesity Task Force. Analysis was performed using weighting to take into account the complex sampling scheme, and using calibration to provide nationally representative results. Weighting was calculated separately between Education priority area and non-priority area, which depends on the socioeconomic level of the neighborhood.ResultsWhile the stabilization of overweight (including obesity) observed since 2000 was confirmed among girls (21.0% in 2007 versus 18.7% in 2016), a significant decrease was observed among boys (from 18.0% in 2007 to 14.4% in 2016, p = 0.046). In 2016, the gap between girls and boys was significant (p < 0.01) for the first time compared to previous results obtained in 2000 and 2007. The prevalence of obesity was also significantly higher in 2016 among girls than boys (5.5% versus 3.2%, p = 0.01). This excess risk of overweight or obesity in 2016 persisted between genders even after adjusting for covariates. Among children from Education priority area, 21.0% were overweight or obese versus 15.7% in children living in non-priority area (p = 0.001).DiscussionThese results confirm the stabilization of overweight among girls and show, for the first time, a decrease in boys. They also highlight gender and social inequalities in children in France. These trends will need to be confirmed by other studies, and analyzed in more detail to understand the reasons for these differentiated evolutions between genders.

scholarly journals Explaining Inequalities of Homeschooling in Germany during the first COVID-19 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elif Sari ◽  
Felix Bittmann ◽  
Christoph Homuth
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Educational Opportunity ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Parental Engagement ◽  
School Closure ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
Low Educated

Current studies suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening existing social inequalities in the field of education worldwide. We argue that the pandemic is especially challenging for students from socially disadvantaged and educationally deprived homes as parental engagement and resources are hugely important to guide and support the learning process during the school closure period.To examine how well parents were able to help their children with schoolwork during the homeschooling period in Germany, we used data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) collected during the first homeschooling period in May/June 2020. Taking known mechanisms of inequality of educational opportunity into account, we explore the effects of parents’ aspirations and cultural, social, and economic capital on the ability to help their children.Our results show that although the majority of parents were able to provide good support with schoolwork, we found the expected inequalities due to social background. Low educated parents are twice as likely to be unable to provide sufficient support compared to highly educated parents. In our multivariate analyses, family resources show a significant positive effect on the likelihood that parents were able to help.Moreover, regardless of the social or cultural capital endowment of the parents, good technical equipment in the household is associated with a higher probability of support. Thus, ensuring technical home equipment could be a way to promote an educationally supportive learning environment across all social groups.

scholarly journals Gender Equality and Gender Inequalities in Self-Reported Health: A Longitudinal Study of 27 European Countries 2004 to 2016

2020 ◽  
pp. 002073142096034
Author(s):  
Luis Roxo ◽  
Clare Bambra ◽  
Julian Perelman
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
Health Differences ◽  
Health Gap ◽  
Employment Education ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Low Educated ◽  
Over Time

Significant gender-based health inequalities have been observed across Europe, with women reporting worse health than men. Still, there has been little examination of how the gender–health gap has changed over time, and how it has been shaped by societal gender equality. We used data from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions Eurostat database (EU-SILC), involving 2,931,081 participants aged 25–64, for 27 European countries. Logistic regressions were performed to model the association between self-reported bad health and gender, in general and over time. Analyses were stratified by employment, education, and clusters of countries according to levels of Gender Equality Index (GEI). Adjusting for age, year, and country, bad health was 17% more likely among women, but this disadvantage ceased after accounting for education and employment. Gender–health inequalities were larger among countries with higher GEI scores and among low-educated groups. The gender–health gap did not reduce significantly between 2004 and 2016, in general and within subgroups. Although societies are becoming more equal, persistent inequalities in employment and income still lead to sustained health differences between men and women.

scholarly journals Publications about Women, Science, and Engineering: Use of Sex and Gender in Titles over a Forty-six-year Period

2021 ◽  
pp. 016224392110276
Author(s):  
Mary Frank Fox ◽  
Diana Roldan Rueda ◽  
Gerhard Sonnert ◽  
Amanda Nabors ◽  
Sarah Bartel
Keyword(s):  
Social Stratification ◽  
Critical Case ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Analytical Issue ◽  
Key Features ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Science Policies

This article focuses on key features of the use of sex and gender in titles of articles about women, science, and engineering over an important forty-six-year period (1965–2010). The focus is theoretically and empirically consequential. Theoretically, the paper addresses science as a critical case that connects femininity/masculinity to social stratification; and the use of sex and gender as an enduring, analytical issue that reveals perspectives on hierarchies of femininity/masculinity. Empirically, this article identifies the emergence, development, and stabilization of published articles about women, science, and engineering that use sex and gender in their titles. The distinctive method involves search, retrieval, and review of 23,430 articles, using intercoder reliabilities for inclusion/exclusion. This results in a uniquely specified and comprehensive set of articles on our subject and the identification of titles with sex and gender. Findings point to (1) the growth of gender titles, (2) their increase in every field, (3) differing concentrations of sex and gender titles in journals, (4) a span of telling topic areas, and (5) higher citation rates of gender, compared to sex, titles. Broader implications appear in reasons for the growth of gender titles, meanings of topic areas that occur, insights into social inequalities and science policies, and emerging complexities of nonbinary categories of sex/gender.

Race, Gender, and Perceived Employment Discrimination

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 509-527
Author(s):  
Philip Q. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Black Women ◽  
White Women ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Employment Discrimination ◽  
General Social Survey ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Job Discrimination ◽  
And Gender

This study investigates the effects of race and gender on perceived employment discrimination using the 2016 General Social Survey that provides new data on perceived employment discrimination that aligns more closely with the legal definition of employment discrimination. It is found that 19% of the American adults self-reported the experience of employment discrimination in job application, pay increase, or promotion in the past 5 years. The results of logistic regression analysis show that either controlling or not controlling for other factors, Blacks were much more likely to perceive being discriminated in employment than Whites, but other races were not significantly different from Whites in perceived employment discrimination after holding other variables constant. While gender did not have a significant independent effect on perceived job discrimination, it did interact with race to influence perceived job discrimination. Regardless of race, women were somewhat less likely than men to perceive job discrimination, but Black women were significantly even less likely than White women to self-report job discrimination, and Black men were much more likely to self-report employment discrimination than White men. These findings have implications for combating employment discrimination and addressing social inequalities.

scholarly journals POS1309 PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF UNDERWEIGHT, OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS (JIA): EVIDENCE FROM THE NATIONAL PAEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGIC DATABASE (NPRD)

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 936.2-937
Author(s):  
F. Milatz ◽  
J. Klotsche ◽  
M. Niewerth ◽  
J. Hörstermann ◽  
D. Windschall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽  
General Population ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Obesity In Children

Background:In patients with JIA, growth impairment and variance in body composition are well-known long-term complications that may be associated with prolonged drug therapy (e.g. glucocorticoids) as well as impaired physical and psychosocial well-being. An increased accumulation of body fat represents a significant risk factor for metabolic abnormalities and a modifiable variable for a number of comorbidities. Recently, evidence has emerged in favour of the potential negative influence of overweight on the course of the disease and treatment response [1].Objectives:The study aimed a) to estimate the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with JIA compared to the general population, and b) to investigate correlates of patients’ weight status.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis of physicians’ recorded body weights and heights of patients with JIA enrolled in the NPRD in the year 2019 was performed. Underweight (BMI <10th), overweight (BMI >90th) and obesity (BMI >97th) were defined according to age- and sex-specific percentiles used in the German reference system. For comparison with data from the general population [2], sex- and age-matched pairs of 3-17-year-old patients and controls were generated. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between weight status and patients’ clinical and self-reported outcomes.Results:In total, data from 6.515 children and adolescents with JIA (age 11.2 ± 4.1 years, disease duration 4.9 ± 3.8 years, 67% girls, 40% persistent oligoarthritis) were included. Of these, 3.334 (age 5.9 ± 2.1 years, 52.5% girls) could be considered for matched-pair analysis. Compared with the general population, patients underweight, overweight and obesity rates were 10.6% (vs. 8.1%), 8.8% (vs. 8.5%) and 6.1% (vs. 5.7%), respectively. No significant sex differences were found in either group. Largest difference in prevalence was registered for underweight, specifically in the age group 3-6 years (12.9% patients vs. 5.9% controls). Similar to the general population, higher rates of overweight were observed in adolescent patients than in affected children (19.1% age group 11-13 vs. 8.4% age group 3-6). While the highest underweight prevalence was registered in patients with RF+ polyarthritis (16%), patients with Enthesitis-related arthritis (22%), psoriatic arthritis (21%) and systemic JIA (20%) showed the highest overweight rates (including obesity). Younger age (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.31-0.83), more frequent physical activity (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.85-0.99) and high parental vocational education (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18-0.80) were independently associated with a lower likelihood of being overweight/obese.Conclusion:The overall prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with JIA is comparable to that found in the general population. Behavioural health promotion, including regular physical activity, as part of the treatment strategy in JIA should preventively already begin at preschool age and necessarily be made accessible to patients of all educational levels.References:[1]Giani T et al. The influence of overweight and obesity on treatment response in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Front Pharmacol 2019;10:637.[2]Schienkiewitz A et al. BMI among children and adolescents: prevalences and distribution considering underweight and extreme obesity. Bundesgesundheitsbl 2019;62:1225–1234.Acknowledgements:The National Paediatric Rheumatological Database has been funded by AbbVie, Chugai, Novartis and GSK.Disclosure of Interests:Florian Milatz: None declared, Jens Klotsche: None declared, Martina Niewerth: None declared, Jana Hörstermann: None declared, Daniel Windschall: None declared, Frank Weller-Heinemann Speakers bureau: Pfizer, AbbVie, SOBI, Roche and Novartis., Frank Dressler: None declared, Rainer Berendes: None declared, Johannes-Peter Haas: None declared, Gerd Horneff: None declared, Kirsten Minden Speakers bureau: Pfizer, AbbVie, Consultant of: Novartis

scholarly journals Social inequalities and trends in pre-pregnancy body mass index in Swedish women

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina E. Lundberg ◽  
Maria Ryd ◽  
Martin Adiels ◽  
Annika Rosengren ◽  
Lena Björck
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Severe Obesity ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Medical Birth Register ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Swedish Medical

AbstractObesity rates in adolescence and young adulthood have increased in Sweden, reflecting global trends. To which extent this occurs across different socioeconomic strata has not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate trends in social inequalities in body mass index (BMI) in young/mid-adulthood Swedish women. We obtained weight and height for all women aged 20–45 years, at their first registered pregnancy (< 12 weeks of gestation) in the Swedish Medical Birth Register 1982–2013 (1,022,330, mean age = 28.8 years), documenting education and county of residence. Trends in mean BMI and in the prevalence of BMI categories between 1982 and 2013 were estimated across education levels and geographical location. Overall, mean BMI increased from 22.7 kg/m2 (SD 3.2) to 24.3 kg/m2 (SD 4.4) between 1982 and 2013. Simultaneously, the prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) increased from 18.1 to 33.4% while that of moderate obesity (BMI ≥ 30 to < 35 kg/m2) and severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) increased markedly from 3.4 and 0.4% to 7.4 and 3.1%, respectively. The prevalence of moderate and severe obesity more than doubled during the study period across all educational levels. In conclusion, BMI and moderate and severe obesity increased markedly among young/mid-adulthood Swedish women regardless of education with a widening gap between those with lower and higher education. These growing social inequalities in BMI are likely to cause a rising divide in serious health problems following early and long-lasting obesity.

Is overweight/obesity a risk factor for atopic allergic disease in prepubertal children? A case–control study

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysel Vehapoglu ◽  
Zeynep Ebru Cakın ◽  
Feyza Ustabas Kahraman ◽  
Mustafa Atilla Nursoy ◽  
Ali Toprak
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Allergic Disease ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Prepubertal Children ◽  
Body Weight Status ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Objectives It is unclear whether body weight status (underweight/normal weight/overweight/obese) is associated with allergic disease. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between body weight status (body mass index; BMI) and atopic allergic disease in prepubertal children, and to compare children with atopic allergic diseases with non atopic healthy children. Methods A prospective cross sectional study of 707 prepubertal children aged 3–10 years was performed; the participants were 278 atopic children with physician-diagnosed allergic disease (allergic rhinitis and asthma) (serum total IgE level >100 kU/l and eosinophilia >4%, or positivity to at least one allergen in skin test) and 429 non atopic healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Data were collected between December 2019 and November 2020 at the Pediatric General and Pediatric Allergy Outpatient Clinics of Bezmialem Vakıf University Hospital. Results Underweight was observed in 11.6% of all participants (10.8% of atopic children, 12.2% of healthy controls), and obesity in 14.9% of all participants (18.0% of atopic children, 12.8% of controls). Obese (OR 1.71; 95% CI: 1.08–2.71, p=0.021), and overweight status (OR 1.62; 95% CI: 1.06–2.50, p=0.026) were associated with an increased risk of atopic allergic disease compared to normal weight in pre-pubertal children. This association did not differ by gender. There was no relationship between underweight status and atopic allergic disease (OR 1.03; 95% CI: 0.63–1.68, p=0.894). Conclusions Overweight and obesity were associated with an increased risk of atopic allergic disease compared to normal weight among middle-income and high-income pre pubertal children living in Istanbul.

scholarly journals Prevalence and risk factors for overweight and obesity: a cross-sectional countrywide study in Burkina Faso

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e032953
Author(s):  
Seydou Kaboré ◽  
Tieba Millogo ◽  
Joseph Kouesyandé Soubeiga ◽  
Hermann Lanou ◽  
Brice Bicaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Proportional Odds ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Current Smoking

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity in Burkina Faso using a population-based countrywide sample. We hypothesise that there is a significant burden related to overweight/obesity in Burkina Faso.DesignSecondary analysis of a population-based countrywide cross-sectional study.SettingBurkina Faso, all the 13 regions including both rural and urban residential areas.Participants4800 participants of both sexes, aged between 25 and 64 years.Main outcomesOverweight and obesity using body mass index cut-off levels of the WHO.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in Burkina Faso were 13.82% (95% CI: 12.25 to 15.55) and 4.84% (95% CI: 3.99 to 5.86), respectively. Among men, the proportional odds of overweight/obesity increase with urban residency (p<0.001), greater age (p<0.002), marital status different from single (p≤0.007) and decrease with current smoking (p=0.009). Among women, the proportional odds of overweight/obesity increase with urban residency (p<0.001), primary educational level (p=0.01), high total blood cholesterol level (p<0.001) and high fasting blood glucose level (p=0.02), and decrease with current smoking (p<0.001).ConclusionOur study showed that nearly one person out of five in the adult population of Burkina has an abnormal weight status with women being more affected than men. Urban residency is a consistent risk factor in both men and women. Alcohol consumption and education were associated with an increased odds in only women. Overnutrition needs to be recognised as an important public health issue in Burkina Faso and nutrition interventions need to be reshaped to account for it.

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