Sociodemographic and nutritional determinants of obesity in Belgium

Stam-Moraga, MC; Kolanowski, Jaroslaw; Dramaix, M; Backer, Guy De; Kornitzer,

doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0800788

Cited by 48 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…A national survey in Belgium showed a higher prevalence of obesity among people having higher fat intakes or higher fatasugar ratio (Stam-Moraga et al, 1999). Low physical activity was directly related to a higher prevalence of obesity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Overall, the prevalence of obesity in developed countries is higher in lower socioeconomic groups (Aranceta, 1998;McDonald et al, 1997;Sunquist & Johansson, 1998;Laurier et al, 1992;Stam-Moraga et al, 1999;Rosmond & Bjo Èrnotorp, 1999;Martikainen & Marmot, 1999), whilst in developing countries the problem is higher among the better off and particularly among those groups adopting Western lifestyles, as reported in Samoa (Van Itallie, 1994) and Latin American countries (Caballero, 2000). Several studies describe socioeconomic status as an independent factor in¯uencing BMI and even on waist ± hip ratio (WHR; Rosmond & Bjo Èrnotorp, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Influence of sociodemographic factors in the prevalence of obesity in Spain. The SEEDO'97 Study

et al. 2001

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Objective: To analyse the in¯uence of social and cultural factors in the prevalence of obesity in the Spanish adult population aged 25 ± 60 y based on available population data. Design: Pooled analysis of four cross-sectional nutrition surveys. Subjects: A total of 5388 free-living subjects aged 25 ± 60 y, respondents of the Nutritional Surveys carried out in four Spanish regions (Catalunya, Basque Country, Madrid and Valencia) from 1990 to 1994. The samples were pooled together and weighted to build a national random sample. Measurements: Weight and height were measured on each individual by trained observers. Age, gender, educational level, occupation, habitat (ruralaurban) and region were considered. Obesity was de®ned as body mass index !30 kgam 2 . The protocol used in each survey was in accordance with the recommendations of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO). Logisitic regression models were designed to analyse the in¯uence of sociodemographic factors in the prevalence of obesity in men and women. Results: The prevalence of obesity was higher in older age groups in men and women, odds ratio (OR) for every 10 y OR 1.40 (95% CI 1.39 ± 1.41) for men and OR 1.86 (95% CI 1.85 ± 1.87) for women. Logisitic regression analysis adjusted for age showed higher obesity rates among low educated people, OR 1.80 (95% CI 1.78 ± 1.81) in men and OR 2.36 (95% CI 2.29 ± 2.42) in women (P`0.001). Among men the odds ratio for the prevalence of obesity in rural areas was OR 1.87 (95% CI 1.86 ± 1.89), compared to cities. The geographical distribution showed higher obesity rates in the southeast. Conclusion: This study supports that obesity is a multifactorial problem. Older women with low educational level and low income seem to be the most susceptible group to weight gain. Therefore, Public Health Programs should consider this type of environmental factor when planning strategies aimed at preventing or reducing the problem of obesity in western societies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Influence of sociodemographic factors in the prevalence of obesity in Spain. The SEEDO'97 Study

et al. 2001

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Obesity has also been clearly related to socio-economic factors (2) . The prevalence of obesity increases gradually in each 10-year age category in the Flemish and Belgian populations (3,4) .According to Belgian military health recruitment standards, all army men should have a normal BMI at the start of their career (5) . However, Kress and co-workers demonstrated in the US military that decades of active duty does not confer any long-term protection against overweight or obesity (6,7) .…”

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confidence: 99%

Trends in the evolution of BMI in Belgian army men

Mullie

Vansant

Guelinckx

et al. 2009

Public Health Nutr.

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Objectives: The first aim was to evaluate BMI cross-sectionally over a period of 14 years (1992 to 2005) in 43 343 army men and the second was to compare BMI using the paired data of 1497 army men. The data were analysed as a function of the military ranking system, used as an indicator for socio-economic position. Design: Multiple cross-sectional and longitudinal design. Results: A significant increase of BMI between age categories was detected over the 14-year period; BMI remained stable in each age category. In the paired cohort, median BMI increased during the same period from 23?9 (interquartile range 3?3) kg/m 2 to 24?7 (interquartile range 3?5) kg/m 2 (P , 0?0001). This age-dependent evolution was present in all military rankings. From age 40 years or more, BMI indicated a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Conclusion: For the total cohort, BMI remained stable in each age category. For the paired cohort, BMI increased over time. The military leadership should emphasize prevention in order to reduce the health-care costs and disease burden in this cohort. This emphasis on prevention should target those aged less than 40 years. KeywordsObesity Body mass index Socio-economic position Army EpidemiologyOverweight and obesity are serious, large-scale global public health concerns. Obesity is not only associated with a lack of self-esteem, depression, social and work problems, but also with a range of chronic diseases (1) . Obesity has also been clearly related to socio-economic factors (2) . The prevalence of obesity increases gradually in each 10-year age category in the Flemish and Belgian populations (3,4) .According to Belgian military health recruitment standards, all army men should have a normal BMI at the start of their career (5) . However, Kress and co-workers demonstrated in the US military that decades of active duty does not confer any long-term protection against overweight or obesity (6,7) . Such data are not available for the Belgian army. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the evolution of BMI over 14 years. Second, the influence of socio-economic position was evaluated. MethodsBetween 1 January 1992 and 31 December 2005, the biomedical data of personnel who participated in international peace-keeping missions were registered by the Belgian army. The variables registered at each period were date of birth, self-reported weight and height, sex and military rank.The study population was divided in two samples. The first sample, named the total cohort, included 49 784 male and female military employees who took part in one or more international military peace-keeping missions between 1992 and 2005. Because of the under-representation of women, we studied only the male population (n 48 850). BMI data were incomplete in 5507 cases, leaving a cohort of 43 343 army men. For each of the fourteen years between 1992 and 2005, a mean of 3096 subjects were evaluated. From this cohort, we identified 1497 paired measurements of army men who carried ou...

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“…With its low costs, large portions and high calorie density of signature menu items, consuming fast food makes it difficult not to exceed recommended dietary intake levels and has been found to increase people's risk of diabetes and heart disease (Odegaard, Koh, Yuan, Gross, & Pereira, 2012). In Belgium, where fast food consumption is high (Matthys, De Henauw, Bellemans, De Maeyer, & De Backer, 2006) and obesity prevalence rising (Stam-Moraga, Kolanowski, Dramaix, De Backer, & Kornitzer, 1999), there is a particular need for interventions that focus on fast food consumption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Message frame and self-efficacy influence the persuasiveness of nutrition information in a fast-food restaurant

Riet

Werrij

Nieuwkamp

et al. 2013

Food Quality and Preference

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The present study investigated the persuasiveness of gain-and loss-framed information recommending healthier choices in fast-food restaurants. Visitors of two fast-food restaurants (N = 235) filled in a questionnaire concerning their fast food choices and received gain-or loss-framed nutrition information. The data revealed that gain-and loss-framed nutrition information were not differently persuasive, but that participants' self-efficacy to choose healthy products influenced the effect of framing. Specifically, for participants high in selfefficacy, the gain-framed message resulted in more positive attitudes towards healthy eating and stronger healthy eating intentions than the loss-framed message. However, for participants low in self-efficacy, the loss framed message resulted in stronger intentions than the gain-framed message. The study thus provides evidence for the role of self-efficacy as a potential moderator of the effects of framed nutrition information in a field setting.

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Sociodemographic and nutritional determinants of obesity in Belgium

Abstract: This study indicates that prevalence of obesity is particularly high in Belgium. Low level of education and reduced physical activity, increased fat intake and especially elevated fat to sugar ratio appear to be powerful determinants of obesity in this Belgian population.

Cited by 48 publications

References 39 publications

Influence of sociodemographic factors in the prevalence of obesity in Spain. The SEEDO'97 Study

Influence of sociodemographic factors in the prevalence of obesity in Spain. The SEEDO'97 Study

Trends in the evolution of BMI in Belgian army men

Message frame and self-efficacy influence the persuasiveness of nutrition information in a fast-food restaurant

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