[Socioeconomic determinism of obesity in the Seine-Saint-Denis area].
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is a complex multi-factorial disease. The role of socioeconomic factors is known but few studies have attempted to analyse separately the impact of the various participating factors: oncome, level of education, cultural and social status.


METHODS
These factors were analysed in 26,278 persons aging from 16 to 59 years, living in the district and having benefited from a medical check-up in the Seine-Saint-Denis health and social prevention centre, district particularly concerned by socio-economic insecurity. Among these persons, a representative sample of 1804 filled-in an additional questionnaire including questions on their income, level of education, marital status and the area or country of origin.


RESULTS
The prevalence of obesity (body mass index or BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) and overweight (MCI = 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) was respectively of 17.6 and 32.7%. Using univariate analysis, the prevalence of obesity was significantly associated with age, gender (higher in women), settled way of life, socio-professional category, low education, marital status and origin (higher in persons from Africa and North Africa). Using a logistic regression model, the risk of obesity was increased 1.45-fold in persons earning less than 838,47 euros and 1.67-fold in persons with low education. Moreover, it was 2.28-fold greater in the un-working population, 1.62-fold in the redundant and 1.5-fold in the working class, compared with the executive-freelance population.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of obesity is therefore independently related to cultural, economic and social parameters.
La Rosa
Emilio
E
Centre de prévention sanitaire et sociale, Caisse Primaire d'assurance maladie de la Seine-Saint-Denis 2-4, avenue de la Convention-93017 Bobigny. emilio.larosa@wanadoo.fr
Valensi
Paul
P
Cohen
Régis
R
Soufi
Karema
K
Robache
Chantal
C
Cohen
Régis
R
le Clésiau
Hervé
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004493:Education; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires