In August 2013, researchers reported how for the first time in 30 years, in all but one state of the US, obesity rates are holding steady.
Meanwhile, also in August 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that US child obesity rates are dropping.
Stable pattern masks widening gap
But Dr. Carl Frederick, of Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, and colleagues noticed a disturbing pattern underlying these apparently welcome trends, which they reported in a recent online issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences:
"[...] we document that the overall trend in youth obesity rates masks a significant and growing class gap between youth from upper and lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds."
An overweight and a skinny teen next to each other.
The researchers found an obesity rate class gap, in which obesity rates among teens from an upper socioeconomic group fell, while rates among teens from a lower socioeconomic group increased.
They found that up to 2002, obesity rates for all teenagers rose at the same rates, but after that, a class gap appeared, and got wider and wider, showing that while obesity has starting falling among teens of higher socioeconomic status, it has continued to rise among those of lower socioeconomic status.
The authors say their findings highlight a need for public health interventions to address disadvantaged adolescents who remain at risk. They should also look at how health information circulates among different socioeconomic groups, they add.
For their study, they examined changes in obesity by socioeconomic background among American youngsters aged between 12 and 17. They got their data from two nationally representative health surveys: the 1988-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and the 2003-2011 National Survey of Children's Health.
They describe what they found:
"Although the overall obesity prevalence stabilized, this trend masks a growing socioeconomic gradient: The prevalence of obesity among high-socioeconomic status adolescents has decreased in recent years, whereas the prevalence of obesity among their low-socioeconomic status peers has continued to increase."
Widening obesity gap between groups linked to lifestyle differences
The comprehensive data set allowed them to look at other possibly linked factors. They found for instance, there were also socioeconomic differences in levels of physical activity, and calorie intake, which they note "may have contributed to the growing obesity gradient."
They suggest doing more to promote healthy lifestyles among young people, especially in the lower socioeconomic groups, would not only help tackle the obesity epidemic among teenagers and reduce the burden of consequent chronic diseases, but would also reduce future health care costs and pave the way for an overall healthier nation.
Source: medicalnewstoday.com
It is a good thing that the obesity rates are dropping or holding steady instead of climbing at the rate they were.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange how obesity persists among those of lower social status. Some would argue that it is because the rich have more means of taking care of their bodies and health so it would be normal for them to be slimmer. But I've never believed that weight has to do with social class.
ReplyDeleteI could imagine that this also has a lot to do with quality and price of foods that are consumed.
ReplyDeleteI could have told the presenters these would be the findings before they ever wrote the paper on the subject. It's incredibly easy to predict. All you have to do is walk into any grocery store and look at the differences in prices of foods labeled "organic" or "pesticide free" or "non-GMO" and their run-of-the-mill equivalent foods to see that, when those with limited buying power are faced with the choice of buying the better alternative or maybe not being able to afford food for the entire month for everyone in the family, they HAVE to choose to buy that which is more affordable. This ever-increasing gap between a tiny minority of "haves" and a HUGE minority of "have-nots" is immoral and even criminal IMHO.
ReplyDeleteChoice of foods has to be it. Higher income, better food.
ReplyDeleteI never thought that obesity had anything to do with social class. This is a very interesting study.
ReplyDeleteIf one becomes obese in the teens then it becomes so very hard to lose the weight as an adult. Sure hope this study aids these people.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that obesity is dropping.
ReplyDeleteInteresting study, I guess it depends on what kind of food you can afford, reflective thus of the social class.
ReplyDeleteIt's refreshing to hear that obesity is dropping in teens.
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