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The influence of socioeconomic status on the incidence and evolution of obesity during early adolescence

International Journal of Obesity volume 22, pages 268–274 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECT: To analyze the influence of socioeconomic status on the prevalence, evolution and incidence of obesity between the ages of 12 y and 15 y in Belgium.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SUBJECTS: 2607 children from five social groups.

MEASUREMENTS: The body mass index (BMI) measured during two school medical examinations carried out at an interval of two years between the ages of 12 y and 15 y.

RESULTS: Between the ages of 12 y and 15 y the inverse relation between social status and the prevalence of obesity is accentuated in girls. The increasing divergence between social groups was a result both of the greater incidence of new cases of obesity and the reduced improvement rate in obesity already present in adolescents of lower social classes.

CONCLUSIONS: Social inequalities in obesity increase during early adolescence. Preventive measures, targeting children of low socioeconomic status, should be put in place at this stage of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, School of Public Health,Free University of Brussels, Belgium

    M De Spiegelaere & P Hennart

  2. Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health,Free University of Brussels, Belgium

    M Dramaix

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  1. M De Spiegelaere
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  2. M Dramaix
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  3. P Hennart
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De Spiegelaere, M., Dramaix, M. & Hennart, P. The influence of socioeconomic status on the incidence and evolution of obesity during early adolescence. Int J Obes 22, 268–274 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800581

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800581

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