The obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in Sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens
Background: Obesity prevalence has continuously increased in Northern Sweden as elsewhere. A cohort effect has been shown and an increasing proportion of the middle-aged population is maintaining body weight. Objective: To test the hypothesis that the obesity epidemic continues but at different spee...
Published in: | Global Health Action |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2010
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v3i0.5149 https://doaj.org/article/75f36d9d07b044c98be91b492af23205 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:75f36d9d07b044c98be91b492af23205 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:75f36d9d07b044c98be91b492af23205 2023-05-15T17:44:35+02:00 The obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in Sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens Bernt Lindahl Hans Stenlund Kristina Lindvall Margareta Norberg 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v3i0.5149 https://doaj.org/article/75f36d9d07b044c98be91b492af23205 EN eng Taylor & Francis Group http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/5149/6483 https://doaj.org/toc/1654-9880 doi:10.3402/gha.v3i0.5149 1654-9880 https://doaj.org/article/75f36d9d07b044c98be91b492af23205 Global Health Action, Vol 3, Iss 0, Pp 1-11 (2010) obesity/epidemiology prevalence incidence socioeconomic status environmental impact Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2010 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v3i0.5149 2022-12-31T00:38:35Z Background: Obesity prevalence has continuously increased in Northern Sweden as elsewhere. A cohort effect has been shown and an increasing proportion of the middle-aged population is maintaining body weight. Objective: To test the hypothesis that the obesity epidemic continues but at different speeds that are dependent on socioeconomic status. Design: Cross-sectional (103,940 adults) and longitudinal (26,872 adults) data from the Västerbotten Intervention Program 1990–2007 were included. All adults in Västerbotten County are invited to a health examination at the ages of 40, 50, and 60 years. Body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status, assessed by residence location, marital status, and education were evaluated. Results: BMI increased in all groups but was greater among men. During 1990–1995 and 2002–2007, mean BMIs were 25.9 and 26.8 among men and 25.2 and 25.9 among women. The trend of increasing BMI slowed around the year 2000 (p<0.001), but this was only observed among the highly educated adults in the most urbanized area. The difference between educational groups increased throughout the study period (men p=0.014, women p=0.002). Longitudinal data for both sexes showed a twofold higher baseline prevalence of obesity among individuals with basic compared to high education and it nearly doubled in all groups during the 10-year follow-up. Low education, living in a rural environment, and living alone were independent predictors of obesity development. The overall cumulative 10-year incidence was 9.4% in men, 9.1% in women, and twofold higher among those with basic and mid-level education who live in rural areas compared to those with high education who live in cities. Conclusion: The trend of increasing obesity has slowed in this middle-aged Northern Sweden population, but this trend shift occurred primarily among those with high education who live in an urban environment. Greater efforts to combat obesogenic environments are needed and should take ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Sweden Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Global Health Action 3 1 5149 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
obesity/epidemiology prevalence incidence socioeconomic status environmental impact Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
spellingShingle |
obesity/epidemiology prevalence incidence socioeconomic status environmental impact Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Bernt Lindahl Hans Stenlund Kristina Lindvall Margareta Norberg The obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in Sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens |
topic_facet |
obesity/epidemiology prevalence incidence socioeconomic status environmental impact Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
Background: Obesity prevalence has continuously increased in Northern Sweden as elsewhere. A cohort effect has been shown and an increasing proportion of the middle-aged population is maintaining body weight. Objective: To test the hypothesis that the obesity epidemic continues but at different speeds that are dependent on socioeconomic status. Design: Cross-sectional (103,940 adults) and longitudinal (26,872 adults) data from the Västerbotten Intervention Program 1990–2007 were included. All adults in Västerbotten County are invited to a health examination at the ages of 40, 50, and 60 years. Body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status, assessed by residence location, marital status, and education were evaluated. Results: BMI increased in all groups but was greater among men. During 1990–1995 and 2002–2007, mean BMIs were 25.9 and 26.8 among men and 25.2 and 25.9 among women. The trend of increasing BMI slowed around the year 2000 (p<0.001), but this was only observed among the highly educated adults in the most urbanized area. The difference between educational groups increased throughout the study period (men p=0.014, women p=0.002). Longitudinal data for both sexes showed a twofold higher baseline prevalence of obesity among individuals with basic compared to high education and it nearly doubled in all groups during the 10-year follow-up. Low education, living in a rural environment, and living alone were independent predictors of obesity development. The overall cumulative 10-year incidence was 9.4% in men, 9.1% in women, and twofold higher among those with basic and mid-level education who live in rural areas compared to those with high education who live in cities. Conclusion: The trend of increasing obesity has slowed in this middle-aged Northern Sweden population, but this trend shift occurred primarily among those with high education who live in an urban environment. Greater efforts to combat obesogenic environments are needed and should take ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bernt Lindahl Hans Stenlund Kristina Lindvall Margareta Norberg |
author_facet |
Bernt Lindahl Hans Stenlund Kristina Lindvall Margareta Norberg |
author_sort |
Bernt Lindahl |
title |
The obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in Sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens |
title_short |
The obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in Sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens |
title_full |
The obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in Sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens |
title_fullStr |
The obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in Sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens |
title_full_unstemmed |
The obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in Sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens |
title_sort |
obesity epidemic slows among the middle-aged population in sweden while the socioeconomic gap widens |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v3i0.5149 https://doaj.org/article/75f36d9d07b044c98be91b492af23205 |
genre |
Northern Sweden |
genre_facet |
Northern Sweden |
op_source |
Global Health Action, Vol 3, Iss 0, Pp 1-11 (2010) |
op_relation |
http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/5149/6483 https://doaj.org/toc/1654-9880 doi:10.3402/gha.v3i0.5149 1654-9880 https://doaj.org/article/75f36d9d07b044c98be91b492af23205 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v3i0.5149 |
container_title |
Global Health Action |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
5149 |
_version_ |
1766146833124425728 |