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Population-level trends in the distribution of body mass index in England, 1992–2013
  1. M A Green1,
  2. S V Subramanian2,5,
  3. F Razak3,4,5
  1. 1Department of Geography & Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
  2. 2School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  3. 3Li Na Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  4. 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  5. 5Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan, School of Public Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr MA Green, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Liverpool, Roxby Building, Liverpool, L69 7ZQ, UK; mark.green{at}liverpool.ac.uk

Abstract

Background Changes over time of mean body weight or prevalence of overweight and obesity have been well documented. Less consideration has been given to describing the distribution to these changes particularly by socioeconomic status and sex.

Methods We use data from the Health Survey for England for the years 1992–2013 to calculate the median, 5th and 95th centiles, and SD of body mass index (BMI). We tested differences using analysis of variance and quantile regression. Analyses were stratified by sex and level of education.

Results There have been increases in the SD of BMI values over the period. While median BMI has increased, there has been a larger increase of the 95th centile. These trends were consistent by sex and level of education, although significant differences were observed in values.

Conclusions Our results demonstrate that changes in median BMI over time do not reflect changes in the distribution of BMI. Failing to understand the distribution of body weight in the population will hamper our projections of future patterns, as well as our ability to design effective public health strategies.

  • OBESITY
  • DEMOGRAPHY
  • PUBLIC HEALTH

https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-206468

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