Key result
High SES is linked to ~45% lower obesity odds in adolescents versus low SES.
Why the study?
The study was designed to examine changes in obesity prevalence among Czech adolescents between 2018 and 2022 and evaluate current non-genetic correlates according to family socioeconomic status in 2022.
Cross-Sectional (n=24,535)
Yes
Effect estimate: OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.44-0.70)
p-value: p=<0.001
Obesity prevalence among Czech adolescents did not significantly increase between 2018 and 2022, but remains significantly higher in those from low-socioeconomic status families, where it is associated with physical inactivity, longer screen time, and skipping breakfast.
Low-SES adolescents warrant targeted obesity screening; hypothesis-generating for lifestyle interventions, with causality unproven.
Background The main aim of the study is to examine changes in the prevalence of obesity in Czech adolescents between 2018 and 2022 and its current non-genetic correlates with respect to the adolescents’ families’socioeconomic status (SES) in 2022. Methods The sample of 24,535 adolescents (n = 11,629/12,906 2018/2022 ; boys: 50.4/50.6% 2018/2022 ) aged 10.5–16.5 years that was analysed was drawn from two nationally representative cohorts of Czech youngsters from the last two cycles of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) online questionnaire survey from 2018 to 2022. Obesity is represented by the > 97th percentile interval on the World Health Organization Body Mass Index percentile chart, with distinctions by sex and the age of adolescents. The differences in the prevalence of obesity between boys and girls from all SES family categories in 2018 and 2022 were tested using a chi-square test ( χ 2 ). Multiple logistic regression analysis with repeated measures was used to analyse correlates of obesity in 2022. Results Between 2018 and 2022, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of obesity in girls or boys in any of the SES categories of families. Adolescents from low-SES families have the highest prevalence of obesity, 11% for boys and 5.8% for girls, significantly higher (p < .001) than its prevalence among adolescents from high-SES families, by + 4.8% points for boys and + 3.9% points for girls. Among adolescents from low-SES families, individuals who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) daily (p < .005) or vigorous PA three times per week (p < .05) were significantly less likely to be obese than their less active peers. Skipping breakfast significantly (p < .05) increased the odds of obesity, but only among adolescents from low-SES families. Shorter screen time (ST) significantly (p < .05) reduced the odds of obesity for all categories of adolescent SES. Conclusions Obesity is most pronounced in adolescents from low-SES families as a result of a long-term positive energy balance mediated by unbalanced behaviour. Significantly lower odds of obesity in adolescents from low-SES families were confirmed to be associated with regular practice of the recommended PA, shorter ST, and not skipping breakfast.
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Sigmund et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity (n=24,535). High socioeconomic status (SES) vs. Low socioeconomic status (SES) was evaluated on Odds of obesity in high-SES versus low-SES adolescents in 2022 (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.44-0.70, p=<0.001). Adolescents from low-SES families had a significantly higher prevalence of obesity compared to those from high-SES families, with regular physical activity, shorter screen time, and daily breakfast reducing the odds of obesity.
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