Association of Overweight, Obesity and Abdominal Obesity with Socioeconomic Status and Educational Level in Colombia

Abstract

Objective

Latin American countries are experiencing a nutritional and demographic transition that predisposes to the spread of the obesity epidemic, especially among the socially and economically disadvantaged. We aimed to describe the prevalence of obesity, overweight and abdominal obesity and their association with household socioeconomic status (SES) and personal educational level in the five major cities of Colombia (Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga).

Materials and Methods

We collected demographic and anthropometric measurements from a population-based, stratified, multi-stage probability sample of individuals aged 2–75 years. Study surveys and anthropometric measurements were administered by highly trained staff. All reported prevalences are expanded to the target population, taking into account the sampling design.

Results

The study sample included 1922 participants. In children and adolescents, the prevalence of overweight and obesity were respectively 23% and 8.8%. Overweight was most prevalent in the 2–4 (30.9%), followed by the 5–11 (23.8%) and the 12–17 age group (17.8%). The combined prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity increased with SES (16.8% in the lowest vs 42.8% in the highest stratum). In adults (18–75 years), the prevalence of excess body weight was 57.5% (36.2% overweight, 21.3% obesity), the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 34.4%, all prevalences increased with age. Obesity was far more prevalent among adult women (29.4%) than men (12.6%) (p˂0.001). Adult obesity and abdominal obesity decreased significantly and monotonically with SES and were most prevalent in individuals with the lowest educational level (35.3% and 50.7%, respectively). Almost 40% of overweight adults had abdominal obesity.

Conclusion

Obesity and abdominal obesity are highly prevalent in the urban population of Colombia, and much more frequent among adults of lower SES and educational level. Excess body weight affected more often children of higher SES. Public health measures are urgently needed to tackle the spread of the obesity epidemic in Colombia and other Latin American countries, with a focus on low-income and low-educational level segments of society.

Keywords:

• obesity
• overweight
• abdominal obesity
• socioeconomic status
• inequality
• Latin America
• epidemiology

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

We want to sincerely thank study participants for their invaluable collaboration. Even though this study was funded by Team Foods Colombia, it was executed independently by the study authors. The sponsoring company had no influence on data analysis, on the contents of the manuscript, or on the decision to publish.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Team Foods Colombia.