Overweight, obesity and eating disorders in adolescents-a socio-somatic reaction to social change?

Abstract

Background Epidemiological studies show a considerable secular increase in obesity, especially in adolescents. Most studies prefer an individualistic explanation of the facts, thereby overlooking the evidence for social change as an important agent in the development of overweight and eating disorders. Their social distribution–overweight and obesity dominate in lower class boys and girls, as well, bulimia in contrast among female adolescents-is only one of the indicators of their social origins.