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

Tracking of General and Abdominal Obesity in Children Between 4 and 9 Years of Age: The Longitudinal Childhood Obesity Study (ELOIN)

“…In Spain, great disparity in numbers has been observed. The study by Albaladejo-Vicente et al 30 On the other hand, our estimates are consistent with studies suggesting that obesity frequently begins early on and that children with GO and AO tend to stay obese 33,34 . Children with or without GO at 4 or 6 years in our study tended to remain in the same category at 9 years.…”

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“…Furthermore 1 in 4 (25%) children with obesity aged 6-9 years across 21 European World Health Organisation (WHO) member states have severe obesity (2). In many highincome countries where the increase in prevalence of obesity has stabilised somewhat, this pattern has not been seen for children experiencing low socioeconomic status, whereby the trend has continued upward (3)(4)(5). Further, emerging evidence suggests that this plateau may be reversing globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions (6).…”

An Ecological Association Between Air Pollution and Adolescent Obesity Study

“…12 Other countries have experienced an ongoing increase in adolescent obesity, including China, in which the rates of obesity during the same period tripled quadrupled 2.5% to 10.6%, 13 and Spain in which they tripled from 2.2% to 7.3%. 14 Several countries have succeeded in mitigating the prevalence of adolescent obesity over the last decade, among them Italy, 15 Ireland, 16 and the Czech Republic 17 while others, such as Australia, Canada, and Korea, have shown fluctuating rates over time. [18][19][20] The high prevalence of adolescent obesity, which is trending higher, and its harmful health consequences necessitate a better understanding of its causes and planned interventions.…”

“…In the United States, a country with one of the highest rates of adolescent obesity and a constantly rising trend, it increased from 21.4% to 28.8% from 1999 to 2018 12 . Other countries have experienced an ongoing increase in adolescent obesity, including China, in which the rates of obesity during the same period tripled quadrupled 2.5% to 10.6%, 13 and Spain in which they tripled from 2.2% to 7.3% 14 . Several countries have succeeded in mitigating the prevalence of adolescent obesity over the last decade, among them Italy, 15 Ireland, 16 and the Czech Republic 17 while others, such as Australia, Canada, and Korea, have shown fluctuating rates over time 18–20 …”