European Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 157, Issue 5, 1998, Pages 432-435

Social class and obesity in 12-year-old children in Brussels: Influence of gender and ethnic origin (Article)

De Spiegelaere M. , Dramaix M. , Hennart P.*
  • a Lab. for Epidemiol. and Social Med., School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, D-1070 Brussels, Belgium
  • b Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
  • c Lab. for Epidemiol. and Social Med., School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, D-1070 Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

From their school health files, the body mass index of 2607 children, 1268 boys and 1339 girls, from the Brussels region of Belgium was analysed. The aim was to study the relationship between obesity and social class, gender and nationality. In Belgian girls, the lower their social class, the higher was the prevalence and severity of obesity. There was no such significant relationship in Belgian boys, nor in immigrant children of either sex, although the overall prevalence of obesity was similar in all groups. These results question certain hypotheses proposed to explain the relationship between social class and obesity. Conclusion From early adolescence on, social inequality influences the prevalence of obesity in Belgian girls, but not in Belgian boys nor in immigrant children. Prevention of obesity should take-into account the influence of gender, social class and ethnic origin.

Author Keywords

Social class Obesity

Index Keywords

sex difference human Ethnic Groups controlled study obesity priority journal Humans ethnic difference Adolescent male female Belgium Article major clinical study Sex Factors social class body mass Body Mass Index Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0031980168&doi=10.1007%2fs004310050845&partnerID=40&md5=8c03d4056ade5b3e480c719a088a9c14
DOI: 10.1007/s004310050845
ISSN: 03406199
Cited by: 26
Original Language: English