journal article
LitStream Collection
Trends in social inequality in overweight and obesity among adolescents in Denmark 1998–2018
Rasmussen, Mette; Damsgaard, Mogens Trab; Morgen, Camilla Schmidt; Kierkegaard, Lene; Toftager, Mette; Rosenwein, Stine Vork; Krølner, Rikke Fredenslund; Due, Pernille; Holstein, Bjørn Evald
2020 International Journal of Public Health
doi: 10.1007/s00038-020-01342-1pmid: 32076738
ObjectivesThe aim was to analyze trends in overweight and obesity in relation to socioeconomic position among Danish adolescents in the 20-year period 1998–2018.MethodsThe study used data on self-reported height and weight and parents’ occupational social class (OSC) from 11-, 13- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, n = 22,177. The analyses included absolute social inequality in overweight/obesity (prevalence difference between low and high OSC) and relative social inequality (OR for overweight/obesity).ResultsIn the total sample, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 9.7% and 1.4%, respectively, with significantly higher prevalence in low than high OSC. There were significantly increasing trends in both overweight and obesity 1998–2018 in low OSC and no significant increase in high OSC. The OR for overweight was 1.59 (1.42–1.74) in middle and 2.16 (1.89–2.46) in low OSC, OR for obesity 1.74 (1.29–2.34) in middle and 2.97 (2.15–4.11) in low OSC. Associations were not modified by survey year.ConclusionsThere was a persistent absolute and relative social inequality in overweight and obesity 1998–2018 among Danish adolescents.