Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010
Abstract Background The prevalence of obesity increased dramatically in many European countries in the past decades. Whether the increase occurred to the same extent in all socioeconomic groups is less known. We systematically assessed and compared the trends in educational inequalities in obesity i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-017-0517-8 |
| _version_ | 1831740285274554368 |
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| author | Kristina Hoffmann Rianne De Gelder Yannan Hu Matthias Bopp Jozsef Vitrai Eero Lahelma Gwenn Menvielle Paula Santana Enrique Regidor Ola Ekholm Johan P. Mackenbach Frank J. van Lenthe |
| author_facet | Kristina Hoffmann Rianne De Gelder Yannan Hu Matthias Bopp Jozsef Vitrai Eero Lahelma Gwenn Menvielle Paula Santana Enrique Regidor Ola Ekholm Johan P. Mackenbach Frank J. van Lenthe |
| author_sort | Kristina Hoffmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The prevalence of obesity increased dramatically in many European countries in the past decades. Whether the increase occurred to the same extent in all socioeconomic groups is less known. We systematically assessed and compared the trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 different European countries between 1990 and 2010. Methods Nationally representative survey data from 15 European countries were harmonized and used in a meta-regression of trends in prevalence and educational inequalities in obesity between 1990 and 2010. Educational inequalities were estimated by means of absolute rate differences and relative rate ratios in men and women aged 30–64 years. Results A statistically significant increase in the prevalence of obesity was found for all countries, except for Ireland (among men) and for France, Hungary, Italy and Poland (among women). Meta-regressions showed a statistically significant overall increase in absolute inequalities of 0.11% points [95% CI 0.03, 0.20] per year among men and 0.12% points [95% CI 0.04, 0.20] per year among women. Relative inequalities did not significantly change over time in most countries. A significant reduction of relative inequalities was found among Austrian and Italian women. Conclusion The increase in the overall prevalence aligned with a widening of absolute but not of relative inequalities in obesity in many European countries over the past two decades. Our findings urge for a further understanding of the drivers of the increase in obesity in lower education groups particularly, and an equity perspective in population-based obesity prevention strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:54:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28ae0fbd801f4f819d162e1fa4fc77c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:54:11Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-28ae0fbd801f4f819d162e1fa4fc77c82022-12-21T19:01:36ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682017-05-0114111010.1186/s12966-017-0517-8Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010Kristina Hoffmann0Rianne De Gelder1Yannan Hu2Matthias Bopp3Jozsef Vitrai4Eero Lahelma5Gwenn Menvielle6Paula Santana7Enrique Regidor8Ola Ekholm9Johan P. Mackenbach10Frank J. van Lenthe11Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center RotterdamDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center RotterdamDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center RotterdamEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of ZürichNational Institute for Health DevelopmentDepartment of Public Health, University of HelsinkiSorbonne Universités, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP UMRS 1136)Departamento de Geografia, Centro de Estudos de Geografia e de Ordenamento do Territorio (CEGOT), Colégio de S. Jerónimo, Universidade de CoimbraDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Complutense de MadridNational Institute of Public Health, University of Southern DenmarkDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center RotterdamDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center RotterdamAbstract Background The prevalence of obesity increased dramatically in many European countries in the past decades. Whether the increase occurred to the same extent in all socioeconomic groups is less known. We systematically assessed and compared the trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 different European countries between 1990 and 2010. Methods Nationally representative survey data from 15 European countries were harmonized and used in a meta-regression of trends in prevalence and educational inequalities in obesity between 1990 and 2010. Educational inequalities were estimated by means of absolute rate differences and relative rate ratios in men and women aged 30–64 years. Results A statistically significant increase in the prevalence of obesity was found for all countries, except for Ireland (among men) and for France, Hungary, Italy and Poland (among women). Meta-regressions showed a statistically significant overall increase in absolute inequalities of 0.11% points [95% CI 0.03, 0.20] per year among men and 0.12% points [95% CI 0.04, 0.20] per year among women. Relative inequalities did not significantly change over time in most countries. A significant reduction of relative inequalities was found among Austrian and Italian women. Conclusion The increase in the overall prevalence aligned with a widening of absolute but not of relative inequalities in obesity in many European countries over the past two decades. Our findings urge for a further understanding of the drivers of the increase in obesity in lower education groups particularly, and an equity perspective in population-based obesity prevention strategies.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-017-0517-8Health inequalitiesObesityTime trends |
| spellingShingle | Kristina Hoffmann Rianne De Gelder Yannan Hu Matthias Bopp Jozsef Vitrai Eero Lahelma Gwenn Menvielle Paula Santana Enrique Regidor Ola Ekholm Johan P. Mackenbach Frank J. van Lenthe Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010 International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Health inequalities Obesity Time trends |
| title | Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010 |
| title_full | Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010 |
| title_fullStr | Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010 |
| title_short | Trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 European countries between 1990 and 2010 |
| title_sort | trends in educational inequalities in obesity in 15 european countries between 1990 and 2010 |
| topic | Health inequalities Obesity Time trends |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-017-0517-8 |
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