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International Journal of Public Health

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01-09-2015 | Original Article

The influence of area-level education on body mass index, waist circumference and obesity according to gender

Authors: Antonio Fernando Boing, S. V. Subramanian

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 6/2015

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between area-level education and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and obesity controlling for individual demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Methods

A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out with 1720 adults aged 20–59 in southern Brazil. We used multilevel modeling techniques to test whether area-level education was associated with BMI, WC and obesity regardless of individual-level characteristics.

Results

We observed a significant between-groups variance for both BMI and WC. Among women, area-level education explained 27.6 and 30.0 % of the between-groups variance of BMI and WC, respectively. In the fully adjusted model, the WC was 4.67 cm higher (p < 0.05) and the BMI was 1.12 kg/m² higher (p < 0.05) in the women residents of low education neighborhoods compared to the residents of high education areas. In the same group, the chance of central obesity and general obesity was, respectively, 2.05 (IC95 % 1.19–3.52) and 1.85 (IC95 % 1.04–3.29) times higher.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that neighborhood characteristics play an important role in the distribution of obesity and must be addressed by policy makers.

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Title: The influence of area-level education on body mass index, waist circumference and obesity according to gender
Authors: Antonio Fernando Boing
S. V. Subramanian
Publication date: 01-09-2015
Publisher: Springer Basel
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 6/2015
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0721-8

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

The influence of area-level education on body mass index, waist circumference and obesity according to gender

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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