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

Author

Listed:
  • Romana Albaladejo-Vicente

    (Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Rosa Villanueva-Orbaiz

    (Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • David Carabantes-Alarcon

    (Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Juana Santos-Sancho

    (Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Rodrigo Jiménez-García

    (Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Enrique Regidor

    (Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Romana Albaladejo-Vicente & Rosa Villanueva-Orbaiz & David Carabantes-Alarcon & Juana Santos-Sancho & Rodrigo Jiménez-García & Enrique Regidor, 2021. "Reversal of the Upward Trend of Obesity in Boys, but Not in Girls, in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1842-:d:499163
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cécile Knai & Tim Lobstein & Nicole Darmon & Harry Rutter & Martin McKee, 2012. "Socioeconomic Patterning of Childhood Overweight Status in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, April.
    2. James White & David Rehkopf & Laust Hvas Mortensen, 2016. "Trends in Socioeconomic Inequalities in Body Mass Index, Underweight and Obesity among English Children, 2007–2008 to 2011–2012," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, January.
    3. Mette Rasmussen & Mogens Trab Damsgaard & Camilla Schmidt Morgen & Lene Kierkegaard & Mette Toftager & Stine Vork Rosenwein & Rikke Fredenslund Krølner & Pernille Due & Bjørn Evald Holstein, 2020. "Trends in social inequality in overweight and obesity among adolescents in Denmark 1998–2018," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(5), pages 607-616, June.
    4. Julie Latomme & Vicky Van Stappen & Greet Cardon & Philip J. Morgan & Mina Lateva & Nevena Chakarova & Jemina Kivelä & Jaana Lindström & Odysseas Androutsos & Esther M. González-Gil & Pilar De Miguel-, 2018. "The Association between Children’s and Parents’ Co-TV Viewing and Their Total Screen Time in Six European Countries: Cross-Sectional Data from the Feel4diabetes-Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, November.
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