Overweight and obesity among adolescents in Norway: cultural and socio-economic differences.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate overweight and obesity among a representative population of 15,966 Norwegian 15-16 year olds and the associations with different socio-economic and cultural risk factors.


METHODS
Self-reported data were obtained from school-based surveys in six counties during 2000-04. Overweight and obesity were calculated using Cole's index.


RESULTS
The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 11.8% and 2.4%, respectively, higher among boys. Logistic regression analyses revealed that adolescents in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark (the northernmost counties) were 70-90% more likely to be overweight and obese compared with adolescents in Oslo (the capital and southernmost county) (OR for overweight in Finnmark = 1.7, CI = 1.3, 2.3). Lower educational plans and poor family economy were both significantly associated with overweight and obesity. So was physical inactivity (OR = 1.2, CI = 1.1, 1.3 and OR = 1.6, CI = 1.2, 2.1, respectively). Eating breakfast was positively associated with not being overweight/obese.


CONCLUSIONS
Overweight and obesity is associated with socio-economic factors and with factors related to food habits and nutrition, suggesting important areas for prevention.
Grøholt
Else-Karin
EK
Department of Health Statistics, Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404, Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway. else-karin.groholt@fhi.no
Stigum
Hein
H
Nordhagen
Rannveig
R
D000293:Adolescent; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D050177:Overweight / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011634:Public Health; D012923:Social Class