title: Population-based trends in overweight and obesity: a comparative study of 2,148,342 Israeli male and female adolescents born 1950-1993.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemic of obesity has been identified as a major source of morbidity, not just in developed countries but globally, in adults as well as at younger ages.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to describe trends in obesity and overweight in Israeli adolescents and observe temporal changes and association by risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research analyzed records of 2,148,342 Jewish adolescents, over a span of 44 years and included data for individual body measurements, place of residence, area of origin and education levels. Body mass index (BMI) was measured by professionals, calculated and categorized as overweight or obesity according to age- and gender-specific BMI curves established in recent years. We processed the data in multinomial logistic regression model and calculated odds ratios for various risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obesity and overweight are on the rise for male and female adolescents born from the mid-1960s onwards, and especially for men from the 1980s onwards. Risk factors for male adolescents include lower socioeconomic status, inferior education levels and Western origins (vs. Asian, African or Israeli origins). Risk modifiers for women were similar, except for African origins, which were associated with increased risk rather than decreased risk. Asian and Israeli origins were protective for both genders, and education was more strongly associated with obesity for women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend stronger preventive efforts directed at adolescents as a whole, and particularly vulnerable groups with lower education levels and poverty, or those with specific geographical origins. Gender disparities are evident and should be considered in these efforts and in further research.
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meydan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derazne
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tzur
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Twig
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamiss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class