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Socioeconomic, Temporal and Regional Variation in Body Mass Index among 188,537 Swiss Male Conscripts Born between 1986 and 1992

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  • Radoslaw Panczak
  • Marcel Zwahlen
  • Ulrich Woitek
  • Frank J Rühli
  • Kaspar Staub

Abstract

Background: Rising levels of overweight and obesity are important public-health concerns worldwide. The purpose of this study is to elucidate their prevalence and trends in Switzerland by analyzing variations in Body Mass Index (BMI) of Swiss conscripts. Methods: The conscription records were provided by the Swiss Army. This study focussed on conscripts 18.5–20.5 years of age from the seven one-year birth cohorts spanning the period 1986–1992. BMI across professional status, area-based socioeconomic position (abSEP), urbanicity and regions was analyzed. Two piecewise quantile regression models with linear splines for three birth-cohort groups were used to examine the association of median BMI with explanatory variables and to determine the extent to which BMI has varied over time. Results: The study population consisted of 188,537 individuals. Median BMI was 22.51 kg/m2 (22.45–22.57 95% confidence interval (CI)). BMI was lower among conscripts of high professional status (−0.46 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.50, −0.42, compared with low), living in areas of high abSEP (−0.11 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.16, −0.07 compared to medium) and from urban communities (−0.07 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.11, −0.03, compared with peri-urban). Comparing with Midland, median BMI was highest in the North-West (0.25 kg/m2; 95% CI: 0.19–0.30) and Central regions (0.11 kg/m2; 95% CI: 0.05–0.16) and lowest in the East (−0.19 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.24, −0.14) and Lake Geneva regions (−0.15 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.20, −0.09). Trajectories of regional BMI growth varied across birth cohorts, with median BMI remaining high in the Central and North-West regions, whereas stabilization and in some cases a decline were observed elsewhere. Conclusions: BMI of Swiss conscripts is associated with individual and abSEP and urbanicity. Results show regional variation in the levels and temporal trajectories of BMI growth and signal their possible slowdown among recent birth cohorts.

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  • Radoslaw Panczak & Marcel Zwahlen & Ulrich Woitek & Frank J Rühli & Kaspar Staub, 2014. "Socioeconomic, Temporal and Regional Variation in Body Mass Index among 188,537 Swiss Male Conscripts Born between 1986 and 1992," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0096721
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096721
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Burkhauser, Richard V. & Cawley, John, 2008. "Beyond BMI: The value of more accurate measures of fatness and obesity in social science research," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 519-529, March.
    2. Victor R. Fuchs, 2018. "Reflections on the Socio-Economic Correlates of Health," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Health Economics and Policy Selected Writings by Victor Fuchs, chapter 10, pages 115-124, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    3. Galobardes, B. & Costanza, M.C. & Bernstein, M.S. & Delhumeau, C. & Morabia, A., 2003. "Trends in Risk Factors for Lifestyle-Related Diseases by Socioeconomic Position in Geneva, Switzerland, 1993-2000: Health Inequalities Persist," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(8), pages 1302-1309.
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    1. Kirchengast, Sylvia & Waldhör, Thomas & Juan, Alfred & Yang, Lin, 2024. "Secular trends and regional pattern in body height of Austrian conscripts born between 1961 and 2002," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    2. Panczak, Radoslaw & Moser, André & Held, Leonhard & Jones, Philip A. & Rühli, Frank J. & Staub, Kaspar, 2017. "A tall order: Small area mapping and modelling of adult height among Swiss male conscripts," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 61-69.

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