Social inequality and age-specific gender differences in overweight and perception of overweight among Swedish children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health

Research Article

PA Gustafsson¹  JS van Vliet²  K Duchen³  N Nelson⁴ 

[1] Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden and County Council of Östergötland, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden;Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, County Council of Östergötland, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden;Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden;Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden;Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, County Council of Östergötland, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden;Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden;Quality and Patient Safety, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176, Stockholm, Sweden;

关键词: Social inequality;    Overweight;    Obesity;    Perception of overweight;    Childhood;    Adolescence;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-015-1985-x

 received in 2015-02-05, accepted in 2015-06-29,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundOverweight among children and adolescents related to social inequality, as well as age and gender differences, may contribute to poor self-image, thereby raising important public health concerns. This study explores social inequality in relation to overweight and perception of overweight among 263 boys and girls, age 7 to 17, in Växjö, Sweden.MethodsData were obtained through a questionnaire and from physical measurements of height, weight and waist circumference [WC]. To assess social, age and gender differences in relation to overweight, the independent sample t- and chi-square tests were used, while logistic regression modeling was used to study determinants for perception of overweight.ResultsSocial inequality and gender differences as they relate to high ISO-BMI [Body Mass Index for children] and WC were associated with low maternal socioeconomic status [SES] among boys < 13 years [mean age = 10.4; n = 65] and with low paternal education level among boys ≥ 13 years [mean age = 15.0; n = 39] [p < 0.05]. One suggested explanation for this finding is maternal impact on boys during childhood and the influence of the father as a role model for adolescent boys. The only association found among girls was between high ISO-BMI in girls ≥ 13 years [mean age = 15.0; n = 74] and low paternal occupational status. Concerning perception of overweight, age and gender differences were found, but social inequality was not the case. Among boys and girls < 13 years, perception of overweight increased only when overweight was actually present according to BMI or WC [p < 0.01]. Girls ≥ 13 years [mean age = 15.0] were more likely to unrealistically perceive themselves as overweight or “too fat,” despite factual measurements to the contrary, than boys [p < 0.05] and girls < 13 years [mean age = 10.4; n = 83] [p < 0.001].ConclusionsThe association between social inequality and overweight in adolescence in this study is age- and gender-specific. Gender differences, especially in perception of overweight, tend to increase with age, indicating that adolescence is a crucial period. When planning interventions to prevent overweight and obesity among children and adolescents, parental SES as well as age and gender-specific differences in social norms and perception of body weight status should be taken into account.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© van Vliet et al. 2015