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Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on February 29, 2008
Journal of Public Health 2008 30(2):145-152; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdn010
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© The Author 2008, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved

Childhood overweight and obesity: is the gap closing the wrong way?



H. Brunt, Trainee Public Health Specialist1

N. Lester, Public Health Information Manager2

G. Davies, Public Health Information Manager1

R. Williams, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology3
1 National Public Health Service for Wales, St. David's Park, Job's Well Road, Carmarthen SA31 3WY, UK
2 National Public Health Service for Wales, Temple of Peace and Health, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NW, UK
3 Centre for Health Information, Research and Evaluation (CHIRAL), The School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK

Address correspondence to H. Brunt, E-mail: huw.brunt{at}nphs.wales.nhs.uk


  Abstract

Background Obesity is a significant public health issue. Obese children have an increased risk of developing chronic adult diseases. Knowledge of socio-economic distribution trends in childhood overweight/obesity is limited.

Methods Body mass indices for 3-year-old children resident in three South Wales localities from 1995 to 2005 were derived from the National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD) and examined in relation to residence lower super output area (LSOA) Townsend Material Deprivation Score.

Results Over 11 years, 53–69% of children had height/weight measurements recorded (with little difference observed across deprivation fifths). Amalgamating the data for all 11 years showed no significant association of prevalence with LSOA socio-economic status. Annual trends varied substantially: the most deprived fifth had the lowest proportion on five, and the highest on six, occasions. Linear regression analysis suggested a greater rate of increase of overweight/obesity in children from most-deprived LSOA areas compared with those from least deprived areas (not statistically significant).

Conclusions Socio-economic difference in overweight/obesity prevalence lessened between 1995 and 2005. Despite annual variation, this apparent closing of the gap has been the result of an increase in overweight/obesity prevalence in children from the most deprived areas who, initially, had a lower prevalence compared with children from least deprived areas, but by 2005, had overtaken them.

Keywords: obesity, public health, socioeconomic status, childhood, overweight


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