Obesity is a more common problem among children from higher social classes than lower social classes in Ankara, Turkey: a retrospective study

Year 2016, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 11 - 19, 30.09.2016

Derya Atamtürk , Berna Ertuğrul İzzet Duyar

Abstract

It has been suggested that the prevalence of obesity is higher in lower socioeconomic status of
high-income countries and in upper socioeconomic strata of low-income countries. This pattern
has not been thoroughly examined in middle-income countries. We aimed to clarify the
distribution pattern of obesity and overweight among social classes in Ankara, Turkey. The
pupils were chosen from lower, middle, and upper socioeconomic sectors of society. A total of
1074 males and 1045 females were measured anthropometrically (stature, body weight, and
triceps skinfold thickness) and their body mass indices (BMI) were calculated. Obesity and
overweight prevalence were assessed using the reference values derived from National Health
and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES I and II) conducted on US children. Our
findings indicated that the prevalence of overweight and obesity were markedly different among
social classes in Turkey. The prevalence of obesity was similar in lower and middle
socioeconomic status (SES) whereas it was higher in upper SES. It could be said that
overweight and obesity are more common problem among children from upper SES than lower
and middle SES. In other words, the pattern of overweight + obesity prevalence in Turkey
resembles that of children in low-income countries. 

Keywords

Obesity, overweight, anthropometry, socioeconomic conditions

References

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