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International Journal for Equity in Health
Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Socioeconomic disparities in abdominal obesity over the life course in China

Authors: Panpan Zhao, Xiaoli Gu, Dongfu Qian, Fan Yang, for the Healthy Aging and Development Study Group in Nanjing Medical University, and for the Data Mining Group of Biomedical Big Data in Nanjing Medical University

Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Abdominal obesity has become an important public health issue in China. Socioeconomic disparities are thought to be closely related to the prevalence of abdominal obesity. Exploring socioeconomic disparities in abdominal obesity over the life course in China could inform the design of new interventions to prevent and control abdominal obesity.

Methods

The China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) was a prospective household-based study involving seven rounds of surveys between 1993 and 2011. Twenty three thousand, two hundred and forty-three individuals were followed up over an 18-year period. The mixed effects models with random intercepts were used to assess the effects on abdominal obesity. Six key socioeconomic indicators, with age and age-squared added to the models, were used to identify socioeconomic disparities in abdominal obesity over the adult life course.

Results

Prevalence of abdominal obesity increased non-linearly with age over the adult life course. Abdominal obesity was more prevalent in younger than older birth cohorts. Positive period effects on the prevalence of abdominal obesity were substantial from 1993 to 2011, and were stronger among males than females. Prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher among ethnic Han Chinese and among the married [coefficient (95% confidence intervals): 0.03(0.003, 0.057) and 0.035(0.022, 0.047), respectively], and was lower among males [coefficient (95% confidence intervals): − 0.065(− 0.075,-0.055)]. A higher-level of urbanization and higher household income increased the probability of abdominal obesity [coefficient (95% confidence intervals): 0.160(0.130, 0.191), 3.47E− 4 (2.23E− 4, 4.70E− 4), respectively], while individuals with more education were less likely to experience abdominal obesity [coefficient (95% confidence intervals): − 0.222 (− 0.289, − 0.155)] across adulthood.

Conclusions

In China, abdominal obesity increased substantially in more recent cohorts. And people with lower educational attainment, with higher household income, or living in more urbanized communities may be the disadvantaged population of abdominal obesity over the adult life course. Effective interventions targeting the vulnerable population need to be developed.
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Metadata
Title
Socioeconomic disparities in abdominal obesity over the life course in China
Authors
Panpan Zhao
Xiaoli Gu
Dongfu Qian
Fan Yang
for the Healthy Aging and Development Study Group in Nanjing Medical University, and for the Data Mining Group of Biomedical Big Data in Nanjing Medical University
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Journal for Equity in Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1475-9276
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-018-0809-x

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