Socioeconomic factors associated with obesity in adolescents in Guadalajara, Mexico

Abstract

ObjectiveTo identify differences in socioeconomic factors associated with obesity in adolescents from different social classes.Methods and materialsIn a cross sectional study 328 adolescents from three junior high schools were included; 131 from low, 106 from middle and 91 from high social class. Socioeconomic information was obtained; the body mass index (kg /m2) was used to evaluate the presence of obesity (BMI >95 percentile) or healthy weight (BMI percentile 5‐85). The association between the presence of obesity and socioeconomic characteristics was measured with the odds ratio (OR) and x2 test.ResultsThe prevalence of obesity was higher in middle (24.5%) than low (18.3%) or high class schools (19.8%). There was an association between the presence of obesity in adolescents and mother's obesity in schools of low (OR = 2.77) and middle (OR = 3.0) social classes and with father's obesity in schools of middle (OR = 2.81) and high (OR = 3.62) social classes. The practice of physical activities was a protection factor for obesity in adolescents from low social class (OR = 0.28 [0.10‐0.76]).ConclusionsThe prevalence of obesity was higher in adolescents of middle social class; probably, the highest prevalence is moving from higher to lower social classes in Mexico. Adolescents from low social class might have less oportunities to practice physical activities and look for health attention.