title: Social Inequalities in Obesity Persist in the Nordic Region Despite Its Relative Affluence and Equity.
abstract: Social inequalities in overweight and obesity (OWOB) have persisted in the affluent and reputedly egalitarian Nordic countries. In this review we examine associations between socioeconomic position (SEP) and OWOB, and secular trends in such associations. Determinants and possible causes of the relations are discussed together with opportunities to cope with OWOB as a public health problem. The findings show a persisting inverse social gradient. An interaction between SEP and gender is noted for adults in Denmark, Finland and Iceland and for children in Sweden. There are overall tendencies for increased inequality, however no consistent trend for an increased social gradient in OWOB. Reasons that increased inequality does not unequivocally mirror in a steepened social gradient in obesity may include methodological questions as well as societal efforts to counteract obesity. Multi-level efforts are needed to prevent OWOB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 454, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital - Part of the Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Nordre Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark ; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thorkild I A
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Laroverksgatan 5, Box 320, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Steingerdur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olafsdottir
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences (HES) Medisiinarinkatu 3, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland ; Nutrition Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, 00280 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehtinen-Jacks
authors.affiliation: HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Forskningsveien 2, 7600 Levanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Turid Lingaas
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Holmen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital - Part of the Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Nordre Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark ; National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Berit Lilienthal
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Heitmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 454, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lissner
keywords: Adolescents; Adults; BMI; Children; Denmark; Education; Egalitarian; Finland; Gender; Gini coefficient; Iceland; Income; Inequality; Nordic countries; Nordic region; Norway; Obesity; Obesogenic; Occupation; Overweight; Secular trends; Social gradient; Social inequalities; Socioeconomic position; Socioeconomic status; Sweden