Overweight and obesity among adolescents in Norway: cultural and socio-economic differences

• Published in: Journal of Public Health
• Main Authors: Grøholt, Else-Karin, Stigum, Hein, Nordhagen, Rannveig
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2008
• Subjects: Health Improvement; Norway; Finnmark; Nordland; Troms
• Online Access: http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/30/3/258; https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdn037

Background The aim of this study was to investigate overweight and obesity among a representative population of 15 966 Norwegian 15–16 year olds and the associations with different socio-economic and cultural risk factors. Methods Self-reported data were obtained from school-based surveys in six counties during 2000–04. Overweight and obesity were calculated using Cole's index. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 11.8% and 2.4%, respectively, higher among boys. Logistic regression analyses revealed that adolescents in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark (the northernmost counties) were 70–90% more likely to be overweight and obese compared with adolescents in Oslo (the capital and southernmost county) (OR for overweight in Finnmark = 1.7, CI = 1.3, 2.3). Lower educational plans and poor family economy were both significantly associated with overweight and obesity. So was physical inactivity (OR = 1.2, CI = 1.1, 1.3 and OR = 1.6, CI = 1.2, 2.1, respectively). Eating breakfast was positively associated with not being overweight/obese. Conclusion Overweight and obesity is associated with socio-economic factors and with factors related to food habits and nutrition, suggesting important areas for prevention.