Socioeconomic Status Of Participants Research Articles

Association of childhood socioeconomic status with adulthood maximal exercise blood pressure: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Purpose Socioeconomic status has been related to resting blood pressure (BP) levels at different stages of life. However, the association of childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and adulthood exercise BP is largely unknown. Therefore, we studied the association of childhood SES with adulthood maximal exercise BP. Materials and methods This investigation consisted of 373 individuals (53% women) participating in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study who had data concerning family SES in childhood (baseline in 1980, at age of 6–18 years) and exercise BP response data in adulthood (follow-up in adulthood in 27–29 years since baseline). A maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test with BP measurements was performed by participants, and peak exercise BP was measured. Results In stepwise multivariable analysis including childhood risk factors and lifestyle factors (body mass index, systolic BP, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, and physical activity), lower family SES in childhood was associated with higher maximal exercise BP in adulthood (β value ± SE, 1.63 ± 0.77, p = 0.035). The association remained significant after further adjustment with participants SES in adulthood (β value ± SE, 1.68 ± 0.65, p = 0.011) and after further adjustment with adulthood body-mass index, systolic BP, maximal exercise capacity, and peak heart rate in exercise (β value ± SE, 1.25 ± 0.56, p = 0.027). Conclusions These findings suggest that lower childhood family SES is associated with higher maximal exercise BP in adulthood.

A Systematic Review of Patient Race, Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Educational Attainment in Prostate Cancer Treatment Randomised Trials—Is the Evidence Base Applicable to the General Patient Population?

ContextProstate cancer (PC) disproportionately affects men of Black race, and lower educational and socioeconomic status. Guidelines are based on randomised controlled trials (RCTs); however, the representation of different races, educations, and socioeconomic backgrounds in these trials is unclear. ObjectiveTo assess reporting of equality, diversity, and inclusion characteristics (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion [EDI]) and differences in treatment effects between different races, and educational or socioeconomic status. Evidence acquisitionWe conducted a systematic review of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase in April 2020 examining RCTs investigating treatments for PC. Outcomes collected were race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and socioeconomic status.RCTs investigating PC treatment in any population or setting were included. Data extraction of characteristics was performed independently by pairs of reviewers and checked by a senior author. The Cochrane risk of bias tool assessed the quality of included papers. Evidence synthesisA total of 265 trials were included, and 138 of these were available as full-text articles. Fifty-four trials including 19039 participants reported any EDI data. All 54 trials reported race, 11 reported ethnicity, three reported educational attainment, and one reported socioeconomic status. Patients of White race were the majority of the recruited population (82.6%), while the minority prevalence was as follows: Black 9.8% and Asian 5.7%. Three studies reported mortality outcomes depending on the participant’s race. All three studies investigated different treatments, so a meta-analysis was not performed. No studies reported outcomes stratified by the educational or socioeconomic status of participants. ConclusionsThere is poor reporting of patient race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and educational attainment in RCTs for PC treatments between 2010 and 2020. Addressing this for future studies will help explain differences in the incidence of and mortality from PC and improve the generalisability of results. Patient summaryIn this study, we reviewed prostate cancer treatment trials to see whether these reported race, education, and socioeconomic backgrounds of their patient populations. We conclude that reporting of these characteristics is poor. This needs to be improved in future to improve outcomes for patients with prostate cancer of all ethnical, racial, and socioeconomic groups.

Comparative effectiveness of psychological interventions for treating the psychological consequences of sexual abuse in children and adolescents: a network meta-analysis.

Comparative effectiveness of psychological interventions for treating the psychological consequences of sexual abuse in children and adolescents: a network meta-analysis.

The Relationship Between Appearance Satisfaction and Self-Esteem Among High School Students in Eastern Croatia

Due to the imposition of social media, a large number of adolescents face problems related to physical appearance and social contact. The research objectives were to examine the degree of satisfaction of high school students in Eastern Croatia, Vinkovci, regarding their physical appearance and self-esteem based on their gender, type of high school and the differences in socioeconomic status. The study was designed as a cross-sectional research and included 278 students from medical schools and high schools. Data was collected using a survey on the demographic and socio-economic status of participants. The Body Image Questionnaire was used in a modified and validated version in Croatia and contained fourteen questions to examine the level of satisfaction with the body image. Using Rosenberg’s ten-question test, the level of self-esteem was examined. The Median age of students was 18 years. The female students in high school were significantly more concerned about their physical appearance than the male students in the same school (χ² = 23.6, p < 0.001). The linear correlation between the degree of satisfaction regarding physical appearance and self-esteem confirmed the association between body image satisfaction and gender of students in medical schools (r = 0,157; p = 0,04) and students in high school (r = 0,371; p < 0,001). Adolescents in this region of Croatia are not overly concerned about their physical appearance despite relatively decreased self-esteem. Alcohol consumption has proven to be a big problem especially for high school students, which can be a result of stress due to maintaining excellent grades.

Reporting of data on participant ethnicity and socioeconomic status in high-impact medical journals: a targeted literature review

ObjectivesTo assess the frequency of reporting of ethnicity (or ‘race’) and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators in high-impact journals.DesignTargeted literature review.Data sourcesThe 10 highest ranked general medical journals using Google scholar...

Attitudes and beliefs towards transgender individuals among residents of Mashhad in 2020

IntroductionTransgender people are more vulnerable to psychiatric morbidities compared to cisgender people. This increased vulnerability can be partly due to the discrimination and stigma transgender people experience.ObjectivesSeveral studies have tried to assess the stigma by studying the public attitudes and beliefs about transgender people. This study aims to explore the attitudes of a large sample of Iranian citizens toward transgender people.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, attitudes and beliefs towards transgender individuals were evaluated using the GTS among citizens of the Mashhad city of Iran. Participants were interviewed, and demographic data and socio-economic status of participants were also obtained.ResultsA total of 1202 participants with a mean age of 41.57±13.41, including 27.4% males and 72.6% females, participated in the study. In our sample, the GTS mean score indicated a moderately positive attitude toward transgender individuals. Our results pointed out the significant difference between sex (p=0.002), marital status (p<0.001), educational and economic levels (p<0.001) in GTS. Furthermore, people who knew a Transgender individual indicated higher GTS (p<0.001).ConclusionsIn Iran, with religious culture and a closed community, the situation for transgender people can be more challenging compared to that of Western countries. Although intolerant views toward transgender people have faded in recent years, society’s attitude is still negative. This investigation revealed that educational level accounted for much of the variance in transgender attitudes. Therefore, we can say that increasing informative trans-related content in social media can educate the general population and reduce anti-trans attitudes and behaviors.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Biofortified Maize Improves Selenium Status of Women and Children in a Rural Community in Malawi: Results of the Addressing Hidden Hunger With Agronomy Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Selenium deficiency is widespread in the Malawi population. The selenium concentration in maize, the staple food crop of Malawi, can be increased by applying selenium-enriched fertilizers. It is unknown whether this strategy, called agronomic biofortification, is effective at alleviating selenium deficiency.Objectives: The aim of the Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (AHHA) trial was to determine whether consumption of maize flour, agronomically-biofortified with selenium, affected the serum selenium concentrations of women, and children in a rural community setting.Design: An individually-randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in rural Malawi. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either intervention maize flour biofortified with selenium through application of selenium fertilizer, or control maize flour not biofortified with selenium. Participant households received enough flour to meet the typical consumption of all household members (330 g capita−1 day−1) for a period of 8 weeks. Baseline and endline serum selenium concentration (the primary outcome) was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Results: One woman of reproductive age (WRA) and one school-aged child (SAC) from each of 180 households were recruited and households were randomized to each group. The baseline demographic and socioeconomic status of participants were well-balanced between arms. No serious adverse events were reported. In the intervention arm, mean (standard deviation) serum selenium concentration increased over the intervention period from 57.6 (17.0) μg L−1 (n = 88) to 107.9 (16.4) μg L−1 (n = 88) among WRA and from 46.4 (14.8) μg L−1 (n = 86) to 97.1 (16.0) μg L−1 (n = 88) among SAC. There was no evidence of change in serum selenium concentration in the control groups.Conclusion: Consumption of maize flour biofortified through application of selenium-enriched fertilizer increased selenium status in this community providing strong proof of principle that agronomic biofortification could be an effective approach to address selenium deficiency in Malawi and similar settings.Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN85899451, identifier: ISRCTN85899451.

A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Examine the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status, Diet Quality and Dyslipidaemia in South African Children and Adolescents, 6-18 Years.

This study utilised a structural equation model to examine the relationship between diet quality, socioeconomic status, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in South African learners. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the indirect effects model for diet, socioeconomic status, diet quality and cardiovascular risk using pre-existing cross-sectional data. The structural equation model was fit using Lavaan version 0.6–5 in R version 3.6.1. Data were analysed from 178 children and adolescents, aged 6–18 years, from five rural schools in Cofimvaba, South Africa. Latent variables were created for dietary quality, dyslipidaemia and the socioeconomic status of participants. A negative association was observed between socioeconomic status and dyslipidaemia in school-aged children (p = 0.029).

Skipping breakfast is a bad idea for patients with cancer.

Skipping breakfast is a bad idea for patients with cancer.

Pathways connecting family socioeconomic status in adolescence and sleep continuity in adult Black and White men

ObjectiveTo evaluate the roles of parenting and adolescent characteristics during ages 13 to 16 in connecting family socioeconomic status (SES) during adolescence with adult sleep in Black and White men. DesignLongitudinal school-based community study beginning in 1987-1988 when participants were enrolled in the first or seventh grade. SettingPittsburgh, PA. Participants291 men (54.4% Black, mean age = 33, SD = 2.5) participated in 2012-2014 in a week-long study of sleep measured by actigraphy and diary. MeasuresIn adolescence (ages 13-16), measures of family SES based on occupation, education, income and public assistance; parenting based on monitoring, positive expectations for future, warm parent-child relationship, and communication; and adolescent characteristics based on anxiety, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and peer rejection. In adulthood, participant SES, minutes awake after sleep onset (WASO), duration, and diary-assessed sleep quality. ResultsStructural equation modeling confirmed significant indirect pathways: (1) low family SES in adolescence to negative parenting to low adult SES to greater WASO; (2) low family SES in adolescence to adolescent characteristics to low adult SES to greater WASO; (3) Black race to low family SES in adolescence to negative parenting to low adult SES to greater WASO; and (4) Black race to low family SES in adolescence to adolescent characteristics to adult SES to greater WASO. Similar models for duration and quality were not confirmed. ConclusionsParenting and adolescent characteristics may have an indirect association with adult sleep continuity. Parenting and mental health interventions in adolescence may improve adult sleep.

Prevalence of anemia in the Portuguese adult population: results from the first National Health Examination Survey (INSEF 2015)

Anemia is a global public health problem with relevant adverse health, social and economic consequences. The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution of the prevalence of anemia in the Portuguese population. This is a cross-sectional population-based study, based on the first Portuguese National Health Examination Survey (INSEF), which included 4812 participants aged 25 to 74 years, with data on hemoglobin levels and self-reported diagnosis of anemia. The socioeconomic status of participants was assessed by education level, employment status and material deprivation. The association between socioeconomic factors and anemia was estimated by adjusted prevalence ratios. The prevalence of anemia overall was 5.8%, 3.1% in men and 8.4% in women. The overall prevalence of moderate–severe anemia was 1.1%. Previously undiagnosed cases represented 92.5%. In men, anemia was associated with age, education, occupation and material deprivation, and in women, with age group and urban typology. Anemia represents a relevant public health issue in Portugal. In women, it is more prevalent among those of childbearing age and older, and in men among older individuals of low socioeconomic status. This information is relevant for developing targeted strategies aimed at the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of anemia.

The socio-economic impacts of bush encroachment in Manthestad, Taung, South Africa

Abstract Bush encroachment involves a widespread increase in, and abundance of, woody vegetation in grassland and savanna biomes. This phenomenon has a direct impact on the socio-economic well-being of rural communities and affects livestock owners and those who utilise the land for various other purposes. This study set out to evaluate and gain an understanding of how livestock owners and land users in a typical rural village in South Africa’s North West Province perceive bush encroachment and the impact it has on the community’s ecosystem services. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional design was used to document the perceptions of the participants regarding bush encroachment and bush control in an attempt to describe characteristics and to find answers to questions related to how local communities are affected by bush encroachment and the control thereof. The results show that encroachment has a significant impact on the socio-economic status of participants. Furthermore, it was found that the vast untapped knowledge of local livestock owners is vital to control bush encroachment, preserve the land for various types of usage and to conserve natural resources. Evaluating participants’ responses and perceptions also contributed significantly to gaining an understanding of how bush encroachment and the control thereof impact rural communities socio-economically. This led the contributors to conclude that raising awareness, actively engaging with the community, imparting skills and offering educational opportunities, creating jobs, merging biophysical activities and promoting active participation are key to the success of programmes aimed at bush control and the resultant improvement of ecosystem services.

Positive association between depression and educational outcomes among young adults

Abstract It has been previously shown that depression is negatively associated with the academic performance of university students. These results, however, rely on university grades and, thus, do not allow comparison of students from different educational organizations. As a result, the relationship between academic performance and depression on a population level is not well known. We use data from the Russian panel study 'TrEC' that tracks 4,893 participants since 2011. This panel is nationally representative for one age cohorts (13-14 years old in 2011). The data set includes educational outcomes of students measured using standardized tests (PISA scores and scores at Unified State Examination). In 2018, participants filled PHQ-9. At that point, many of them were in the first year of their Master's programs. The prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 > = 10) was 20% for women and 11% for men. We find no association between PHQ-9 scores for women and their PISA scores, Pearson's r = 0.01 (CI95% = [-0.03, 0.06]), however we find positive association for men, r = 0.16 (CI95% = [0.11, 0.20]). This corresponds to a relative risk of being depressed for the highest performing men (PISA levels 5 and 6) of 1.6. This result holds after controlling for the socioeconomic status of participants and the fact of studying at university. For those participants who study at a university, it is possible to additionally control for the selectivity of their university as the average academic performance of enrollees is publicly available information for Russian universities. We find that the personal educational outcomes rather than the selectivity of the university explain the results. It is generally believed that educational outcomes are negatively associated with depression. We find no such association for women and a positive association for men. This result might be particular to Russia or to a certain age cohort. In any case, they highlight the need for more research in this area. Key message We use data from a nationally representative panel and find that educational outcomes measured by a standardized test are positively associated with depression for young men but not for young women.

Alcohol marketing policy and advertising exposure in low and middle income Latin American countries

While it is presumed that alcohol marketing policies decrease adolescent exposure to alcohol advertising, scientific literature on the topic is sparse. The current study sought to determine if alcohol marketing policy strength in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) region of the Americas was associated with adolescent alcohol ad exposure. A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the Global School-based Health Survey and the WHO’s Global Information System on Alcohol and Health . Linear regression was used, and the analysis included country-level (i.e. other alcohol policies, human development index (HDI), pattern of drinking score (PDS)) and individual-level (i.e. participant age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), lifetime drinking status) covariates. Among 47,195 adolescents, 11–16 years old, from 13 countries, marketing policy strength was inversely associated with alcohol ad exposure (β (95% confidence interval (CI)) = −0.82 (−0.96, −0.68), p < .001). Other alcohol control measures, HDI, PDS, and participant SES were also inversely associated with exposure (p’s < .001). As presumed, alcohol marketing policies may reduce adolescent exposure to alcohol advertising, and countries should consider including strong marketing restrictions, or complete marketing bans, when implementing alcohol control policies in their effort to meet the sustainable development goals.

Malaria and Its Economic Burden among Pregnant Women in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Malaria remains a public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa especially in pregnant women because of the potential risk to the life of the mother and risk of transmission to the foetus. Treatment of malaria imposes a great economic burden on households, governments, and ultimately slows down the pace of economic development in these countries. Methods: This study estimates the economic burden of malaria among pregnant women in Nigeria, using a cross sectional survey, conducted in 8 public health institutions from the three senatorial districts of Rivers State. The data was collected from a sample of 1008 pregnant women visiting antenatal clinics using the open data kit (ODK) pretested questionnaires by trained personnel. Results: The results show that malaria has a direct economic burden of about N5826.21 or 16.18 United States Dollar (USD) for outpatient treatment including diagnostic tests and about N18,271 or 50.75 USD using an exchange rate of N360:1 USD, for inpatient treatment. A significant statistical association was established between malaria diagnosis and socio-economic status of participants (p-value Conclusion: Though the intangible cost could not be identified, the study has shown that malaria imposes huge economic burden on households especially poor households. There is need for government to intensify its efforts in malaria eradication schemes. Efforts should be made to put in place a free malaria treatment policy for vulnerable groups like pregnant women. Furthermore, involvement of health systems in reducing the cost of treatment will decrease the economic burden on the households.

Trends in prescription opioid use and dose trajectories before opioid use disorder or overdose in US adults from 2006 to 2016: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundWith governments’ increasing efforts to curb opioid prescription use and limit dose below the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended threshold of 90 morphine milligram equivalents per day, little is known about prescription opioid patterns preceding opioid use disorder (OUD) or overdose. This study aimed to determine prescribed opioid fills and dose trajectories in the year before an incident OUD or overdose diagnosis using a 2005–2016 commercial healthcare database.Methods and findingsThis cross-sectional study identified individuals aged 18 to 64 years with incident OUD or overdose in the United States. We measured the prevalence of opioid prescription fills and trajectories of opioid morphine equivalent dose (MED) prescribed during the 12-month period before the diagnosis. Of 227,038 adults with incident OUD or overdose, 33.1% were aged 18 to 30 years, 52.9% were males, and 85.0% were metropolitan residents. Half (50.5%) of the patients had a diagnosis of chronic pain, 32.7% had depression, and 20.3% had anxiety. Overall, 79,747 (35.1%) patients filled no opioid prescription in the 12 months before OUD or overdose diagnosis, with the proportion significantly increasing between 2006 and 2016 (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.86; 95% CI 1.79–1.93; P < 0.001). Patients without (versus with) prescribed opioids tended to be younger males and metropolitan and Northeast US residents. Of 145,609 patients who filled opioid prescriptions, 5 distinct prescribed daily dose trajectories preceding diagnosis emerged: consistent low dose (<3 mg MED, 34.6%), consistent moderate dose (20 mg MED, 27.3%), consistent high dose (150 mg MED, 15.0%), escalating dose (from <3 to 20 mg MED, 13.7%), and de-escalating dose (from 20 to <3mg MED, 9.4%). Overall, over two-thirds of patients with OUD or overdose with prescription opioids were prescribed a mean daily dose below 90 mg MED before diagnosis. Major limitations include the limited generalizability of the study findings and lack of information on out-of-pocket drug spending, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status of participants, which prevents analyses addressing these characteristics.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that absence of opioid prescription fills in the year before incident OUD or overdose diagnosis was prevalent, and the majority of the patients received prescription opioid doses below the risk threshold of 90 mg MED. An increasing proportion of high-risk patients could be missed by current programs solely based on opioid prescribing and dispensing information in this new era of limited access to prescription opioids.

Relationship between 24-hour urinary sodium excretion and blood pressure in the adult population in Shandong, China.

The main objective of this study was to determine baseline salt intake levels in a sample of the adult population of Shandong province and to establish the relationship between urinary sodium excretion and blood pressure. A total of 512 participants were recruited, and all the participants provided complete 24‐hour urine collections. Physical assessment and socioeconomic status of participants were collected at the same time. The mean 24‐hour urinary sodium excretion of all subjects was 228.0 ± 127.5 mmol/24 hours. Estimated salt intake was higher in obese subjects (17.6 ± 8.8 g/d) compared with overweight subjects (15.6 ± 8.0 g/d) and those with a normal BMI (13.9 ± 6.8 g/d). Likewise, urinary sodium excretion of hypertensive participants was dramatically higher than that of non‐hypertensive ones, the equivalent of 18.2 ± 9.1 g/d vs 13.3 ± 6.8 g/d. Urinary sodium was significantly associated with SBP (β = 1.08, P = .018) after adjustment for potential confounders. In summary, we found significantly high levels of salt intake in Shandong Province, particularly in obese and hypertension subjects. It is quite important to improve public education about reducing salt intake to control blood pressure among Shandong people.

Diet Quality and Total Daily Price of Foods Consumed among Iranian Diabetic Patients.

Background:The aim is to investigate the association between diet quality and daily price of foods consumed among Iranian diabetic patients.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) aged 30–70 years. General information, socioeconomic status, anthropometric and biochemical characteristics, and food prices were collected by pretested questionnaires. Dietary intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative reliable and valid food frequency questionnaire. Modified nutritionist IV and SPSS software were used for analyses.Results:The results of the present study indicated a direct relationship between total daily price of diet and nutrient adequacy ratio of Vitamin D, Vitamin B1, selenium, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and mean adequacy ratio of 11 micronutrients (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and potassium) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the total daily price of diet had a positive association with dietary intakes of protein, Vitamin D, Vitamin B1, selenium, zinc, magnesium and potassium among type 2 diabetic patients (P < 0.05). However, no significant relationship was observed between the total daily price of diet and anthropometric indices, biochemical characteristics, and socioeconomic status of participants in the present study (P > 0.05).Conclusions:This study showed that dietary quality and dietary intakes of energy, protein, and micronutrients were directly associated with the total daily price of foods among Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes.

Economic Inequality in Life Satisfaction and Self-perceived Health in Iranian Children and Adolescents: The CASPIAN IV Study.

Background:The purpose of this study was to assess socioeconomic status (SES) inequality in life satisfaction (LS) and good self-perceived health (SPH) in Iranian children and adolescents.Methods:This nationwide study was conducted as part of a fourth national school-based surveillance program performed on 14880 students aged 6–18 years who were living in urban and rural areas of 30 provinces of Iran between 2011 and 2012. Using principle component analysis, the SES of participants was constructed as single variable. SES inequality in LS and good SPH across the SES quintiles was assessed using the concentration index (C) and slope index of inequality (SII). The determinants of this inequality are investigated by the Oaxaca Blinder decomposition method.Results:Frequency of LS along with the SES quintiles shifted significantly from 73.28% (95% CI: 71.49, 75.08) in the lowest quintile to 86.57% (95% CI:85.20, 87.93) in the highest SES quintile. Frequency of favorable SPH linearly increased from lowest SES quintile (76.18% (95% CI: 74.45, 77.92)) to highest SES quintile (83.39% (95% CI: 81.89, 84.89)). C index for LS and good SPH was negative, which suggests inequality was in favor of high SES group. SII for LS and SPH was 15.73 (95% CI: 12.10, 19.35) and 8.21 (95% CI: 5.46, 10.96)]. Living area and passive smoking were the most contributed factors in SES inequality of LS. Also passive smoking and physical activity were the most contributed factors in SES inequality of SPH.Conclusions:SES inequality in LS and good SPH was in favor of high SES group. These findings are useful for health policies, better programming and future complementary analyses.

Socioeconomic inequality in childhood obesity and its determinants: a Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition

ObjectiveChildhood obesity has become a priority health concern worldwide. Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of its main determinants. This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic inequality of obesity in children and adolescents at national and provincial levels in Iran. MethodsThis multicenter cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2011–2012, as part of a national school‐based surveillance program performed in 40,000 students, aged 6–18‐years, from urban and rural areas of 30 provinces of Iran. Using principle component analysis, the SES of participants was categorized to quintiles. SES inequality in excess weight was estimated by calculating the prevalence of excess weight (i.e., overweight, generalized obesity, and abdominal obesity) across the SES quintiles, the concentration index (CCI), and slope index of inequality (SII). The determinants of this inequality were determined by the Oaxaca Blinder decomposition. ResultsOverall, 36,529 students completed the study (response rate: 91.32%); 50.79% of whom were boys and 74.23% were urban inhabitants. The mean (SD) age was 12.14 (3.36) years. The prevalence of overweight, generalized obesity, and abdominal obesity was 11.51%, 8.35%, and 17.87%, respectively. The SII for overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity was −0.1, −0.1 and −0.15, respectively. CI for overweight, generalized obesity, and abdominal obesity was positive, which indicate inequality in favor of low SES groups. Area of residence, family history of obesity, and age were the most contributing factors to the inequality of obesity prevalence observed between the highest and lowest SES groups. ConclusionThis study provides considerable information on the high prevalence of excess weight in families with higher SES at national and provincial levels. These findings can be used for international comparisons and for healthcare policies, improving their programming by considering differences at provincial levels.