Socioeconomic gradients in health and overweight

M. J. Müller, S. Danielzik, S. Pust, B. Landsberg, Kiel

In Germany overweight and obesity in children, adolescents and adults are endemic. In our society, overweight is not equally distributed.

There is an inverse socioeconomic gradient in childhood overweight: children of low socioeconomic status have the highest prevalence of overweight. These differences are only partly explained by socially determined behaviours. Social factors also serve as a barrier to interventions of health promotion at school and treatment of overweight. Since overweight is a social, familial and gender problem it is not solved by intervention addressing the individual behaviour only. Effective intervention strategies should comprise multiple settings.

Key words: socioeconomic status / prevention / overweight / children

Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs-Umschau 06/06 ab Seite 212.