| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Original Research Communications |
Background: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity is a major public health concern in many developed countries.
Objective: We aimed to describe socioeconomic differences in change in body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) from age 25 y, assess possible factors behind these differences, and study whether socioeconomic differences in a variety of coronary risk factors can be accounted for by change in BMI.
Design: The data come from a cohort study of London-based civil servants (Whitehall II), who participated in the first (1985–1988) and third (1991–1993) phases of the study and were 35–55-y old at phase 1; altogether there were 5507 men and 2466 women. Both study phases included a questionnaire and a screening examination.
Results: In men and women, employment grade—the measure of socioeconomic status used in this cohort—was strongly related to BMI gain from age 25 y to phase 3 (25 y apart on average). The lower the grade the larger the gain in BMI. Adjustment for health behaviors reduced the grade differences in BMI gain by 
20%. A substantial part of the grade differences in diastolic and systolic blood pressure and plasma triacylglycerol concentrations could be accounted for by BMI change from age 25 y.
Conclusions: Grade differences in BMI change are evident, but many of the determinants of these differences remain unknown. If lower-status persons continue to gain weight more rapidly than higher-status persons, overweight is likely to be of growing importance as a pathway to social inequalities in ill health.
Key Words: Weight gain • body mass index • socioeconomic status • coronary risk factors • London civil servants • overweight
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  F. Eek and P.-O. Ostergren Factors associated with BMI change over five years in a Swedish adult population. Results from the Scania Public Health Cohort Study Scand J Public Health, July 1, 2009; 37(5): 532 - 544. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. A. Schulte, G. R. Wagner, A. Downes, and D. B. Miller A Framework for the Concurrent Consideration of Occupational Hazards and Obesity Ann. Hyg., October 1, 2008; 52(7): 555 - 566. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. McLaren Socioeconomic Status and Obesity Epidemiol. Rev., May 2, 2007; (2007) mxm001v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. A. Schulte, G. R. Wagner, A. Ostry, L. A. Blanciforti, R. G. Cutlip, K. M. Krajnak, M. Luster, A. E. Munson, J. P. O'Callaghan, C. G. Parks, et al. Work, Obesity, and Occupational Safety and Health Am J Public Health, March 1, 2007; 97(3): 428 - 436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Lallukka, P. Martikainen, A. Reunanen, E. Roos, S. Sarlio-Lahteenkorva, and E. Lahelma Associations between working conditions and angina pectoris symptoms among employed women. Psychosom Med, March 1, 2006; 68(2): 348 - 354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Wilsgaard, B. K. Jacobsen, and E. Arnesen Determining Lifestyle Correlates of Body Mass Index using Multilevel Analyses: The Tromso Study, 1979-2001 Am. J. Epidemiol., December 15, 2005; 162(12): 1179 - 1188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Silventoinen, S. Sarlio-Lahteenkorva, M. Koskenvuo, E. Lahelma, and J. Kaprio Effect of environmental and genetic factors on education-associated disparities in weight and weight gain: a study of Finnish adult twins Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2004; 80(4): 815 - 822. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Stafford, P. Martikainen, E. Lahelma, and M. Marmot Neighbourhoods and self rated health: a comparison of public sector employees in London and Helsinki J Epidemiol Community Health, September 1, 2004; 58(9): 772 - 778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Chor, E. Faerstein, G. A Kaplan, J. W Lynch, and C. S Lopes Association of weight change with ethnicity and life course socioeconomic position among Brazilian civil servants Int. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2004; 33(1): 100 - 106. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J Wardle and A Steptoe Socioeconomic differences in attitudes and beliefs about healthy lifestyles J Epidemiol Community Health, June 1, 2003; 57(6): 440 - 443. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. M Egeland, A. Tverdal, H. E Meyer, and R. Selmer A man's heart and a wife's education: A 12-year coronary heart disease mortality follow-up in Norwegian men Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2002; 31(4): 799 - 805. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J L Gutierrez-Fisac, E Regidor, J R Banegas Banegas, and F Rodriguez Artalejo The size of obesity differences associated with educational level in Spain, 1987 and 1995/97 J Epidemiol Community Health, June 1, 2002; 56(6): 457 - 460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. M. Paris, S. A. Bedno, M. R. Krauss, L. W. Keep, and M. V. Rubertone Weighing in on Type 2 Diabetes in the Military: Characteristics of U.S. military personnel at entry who develop type 2 diabetes Diabetes Care, November 1, 2001; 24(11): 1894 - 1898. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
