Reversal of the Upward Trend of Obesity in Boys, but Not in Girls, in Spain.

Romana Albaladejo-Vicente,Rodrigo Jiménez-García,David Carabantes-Alarcon,Enrique Regidor,Rosa Villanueva-Orbaiz,Juana Santos-Sancho

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041842

Abstract

(1) Background: To compare the prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys and girls and to estimate socioeconomic differences associated with obesity in Spain in 1997, 2007, and 2017. (2) Methods: Data were drawn from national health interview surveys. For each year of study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was measured, and these results were compared by gender (boy/girl) and socioeconomic status (low/high education). (3) Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity rose from 1997 to 2007 but then fell in 2017 in all subgroups except in girls aged 10 to 15 years. In this group, there was a steady increase in the prevalence of both overweight (1997, 14.6%; 2007, 17.7%; 2017, 19.6%) and obesity (1.1, 3.2, and 3.7%, respectively). The decrease in prevalence of overweight in both sexes and of obesity in boys, along with the increase in prevalence of obesity in girls, was of a higher magnitude in children whose parents had a lower educational level. (4) Conclusions: The apparent turnaround in the obesity epidemic in Spain should be interpreted with caution. Children’s body weight is influenced by both gender and socioeconomic status—considerations that should be kept in mind when designing health promotion interventions.

Highlights

IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
From a health system perspective, childhood obesity and derived diseases lead to an increase in premature disability and mortality, and the associated treatments are responsible for the highest healthcare costs in children and young people [4]
Overweight and obesity were defined according to Cole et al.’s 14 criteria for children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years, which establish body mass index (BMI) cutoffs derived from the International Obesity Task Force recommendations [14] in adults

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Overweight and obesity are important health problems that incur immediate and negative consequences, including pediatric hypertension, abnormal glucose tolerance, and osteomuscular, neurological, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and liver alterations [1,2]. In the long term, childhood overweight and obesity increase the risk of chronic disease in adulthood, along with mental health disorders and social stigmatization [3]. From a health system perspective, childhood obesity and derived diseases lead to an increase in premature disability and mortality, and the associated treatments are responsible for the highest healthcare costs in children and young people [4]

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Discussion

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