scholarly journals Comparative appraisal of educational inequalities in overweight and obesity among adults in 19 European countries

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert-Jan R Roskam ◽  
Anton E Kunst ◽  
Herman Van Oyen ◽  
Stefaan Demarest ◽  
Jurate Klumbiene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Educational Inequalities

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 Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Hoffmann ◽  
R De Gelder ◽  
Y Hu ◽  
JP Mackenbach ◽  
FJ van Lenthe
Keyword(s):  
European Countries ◽  
Educational Inequalities

Food Consumption Habits and Food Security Challenges among Immigrants

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrej Přívara
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Healthy Immigrant Effect ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research

There is no single behaviour path for migrants after arrival in the destination country. The cases of their successful integration in the host country social environment are not rare, and healthy immigrant effect, indeed, often occurs showing that not always shift to the new living conditions, culture and food traditions preclude healthy food habits of the migrants. However, there are still many factors, both individual and social environment-related, which increase overweight and obesity risk. Quantitative and qualitative research findings have shown that food insecurity can be simultaneously a cause and a consequence of migration. Including religious identities, food has largely become a distinctive factor of the identities of individuals and communities. The distribution of eating habits from migrant source countries, in particular, from Africa to the host European countries is dramatically changing the European cultural dimension. Food has appeared to be one of the main factors of migrants’ integration in European countries. Food insecurity is a critical push factor. Current research emphasised that integration programmes should rely not only on basic language and cultural aspects but also on food, improving the contribution of the food traditions of migrants, while also inspiring in this field interactions and contributions via this medium among long-standing and newly-forming societies. This article focuses on key food challenges, which migrants face in destination countries and factors as causes of these challenges. We also discuss barriers to migration policy change and provide possible ways to mitigate these barriers.

scholarly journals Maternal educational inequalities in measured body mass index trajectories in three European countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathal McCrory ◽  
Siobhan Leahy ◽  
Ana Isabel Ribeiro ◽  
Silvia Fraga ◽  
Henrique Barros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Educational Inequalities ◽  
Body Mass Index Trajectories

Overweight and obesity – the scale of the phenomenon and risk factors

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-29
Author(s):  
Natalia Gromek
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Sports Activity ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Fat Consumption ◽  
Excessive Body Weight ◽  
Per Capita

Obesity and overweight are classified as lifestyle diseases of the 21st century. Their universality justifies the need to identify the factors which contribute to excessive body weight. The aim of the paper is to determine the scale of the overweight and obesity phenomenon in European countries and, as mentioned above, to identify the factors contributing to it. The research examined socio-economic factors, fruit and vegetable consumption, sugar and fat consumption, smoking tobacco and alcohol consumption, length of sleep and time spent in front of the TV, energy dose supplied by food and the level of physical activity. The study uses the BMI (body mass index), which is the elementary determiner of the regularity or irregularity of body weight. The analysis is based on the data from the OECD bases for 2013–2015 and from Eurostat for 2014. The applied Spearman correlation revealed statistically significant, strong dependencies among the explanatory variables (i.e. between the consumption of fruit per capita and the consumption of fat per capita, between the income per capita and regular sports activity, between the fat consumption per capita and the level of education, and between the level of education and the consumption of fruit and vegetables per capita). The results of the factor analysis demonstrated that in European countries, the phenomenon of excessive body weight is caused by lack of physical activity.

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