Dataset Information

Occupational class differences in body mass index and weight gain in Japan and Finland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Occupational class differences in body mass index (BMI) have been systematically reported in developed countries, but the studies have mainly focused on white populations consuming a Westernized diet. We compared occupational class differences in BMI and BMI change in Japan and Finland.

Methods

The baseline surveys were conducted during 1998-1999 among Japanese (n = 4080) and during 2000-2002 among Finnish (n = 8685) public-sector employees. Follow-up surveys were conducted among those still employed, in 2003 (n = 3213) and 2007 (n = 7086), respectively. Occupational class and various explanatory factors were surveyed in the baseline questionnaires. Linear regression models were used for data analysis.

Results

BMI was higher at baseline and BMI gain was more rapid in Finland than in Japan. In Finland, baseline BMI was lowest among men and women in the highest occupational class and progressively increased to the lowest occupational class; no gradient was found in Japan (country interaction effect, P = 0.020 for men and P < 0.0001 for women). Adjustment for confounding factors reflecting work conditions and health behavior increased the occupational class gradient among Finnish men and women, whereas factors related to social life had no effect. No statistically significant difference in BMI gain was found between occupational classes.

Conclusions

The occupational class gradient in BMI was strong among Finnish employees but absent among Japanese employees. This suggests that occupational class inequalities in obesity are not inevitable, even in high-income societies.

SUBMITTER: Silventoinen K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3834282 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Occupational class differences in body mass index and weight gain in Japan and Finland.

Silventoinen Karri K Tatsuse Takashi T Martikainen Pekka P Rahkonen Ossi O Lahelma Eero E Sekine Michikazu M Lallukka Tea T

Journal of epidemiology 20131019 6

<h4>Background</h4>Occupational class differences in body mass index (BMI) have been systematically reported in developed countries, but the studies have mainly focused on white populations consuming a Westernized diet. We compared occupational class differences in BMI and BMI change in Japan and Finland.<h4>Methods</h4>The baseline surveys were conducted during 1998-1999 among Japanese (n = 4080) and during 2000-2002 among Finnish (n = 8685) public-sector employees. Follow-up surveys were condu ...[more]

PMID: 24140817

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Project description:OBJECTIVE:To study the association of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain with child neurodevelopmental outcomes. METHODS:We performed a secondary analysis of data from two parallel, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled thyroxine replacement trials in pregnant women with either hypothyroxinemia or subclinical hypothyroidism who delivered at term. Body mass index was categorized as normal (18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9), or obese (30 or greater). We also evaluated early (20 weeks of gestation or less), late (greater than 20 weeks of gestation), and total gestational weight gain and categorized gestational weight gain as inadequate, adequate, and excessive per 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. Neurodevelopmental outcomes included 5-year Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and 3-year Differential Ability Scales-II. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed and adjusted for maternal age, race-ethnicity, education, insurance status, parity, smoking and alcohol use, thyroid status (subclinical hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia), treatment group, gestational age at delivery, and neonatal sex. RESULTS:Of the 948 women included, 380 (40%), 305 (32%), and 263 (28%) had normal, overweight, and obese prepregnancy BMI, respectively. A total of 106 (11%), 212 (22%), and 630 (66%) of women had inadequate, adequate, and excessive total rates of gestational weight gain, respectively. Maternal differences among the BMI categories included race-ethnicity, education, insurance type, parity, and thyroid status (all P<.01), whereas the gestational weight gain groups only differed by parity (P<.001). In unadjusted analysis, children of obese (93.2±12.8; 88.5±13.3) and overweight (94.1±15.6; 89.6±16.0) women had lower Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and Differential Ability Scales-II scores, respectively, than normal-weight women (97.4±15.4; 93.9±16.0; P<.001 for all comparisons); however, in adjusted analysis, there were no differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes by maternal BMI. The association was primarily accounted for by race-ethnicity and education. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, there were no differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes by adequacy of early, late, or total gestational weight gain. CONCLUSION:In women with either subclinical hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia, neither prepregnancy BMI nor gestational weight gain was associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes among children born at term in adjusted analyses.

Dataset Information

Occupational class differences in body mass index and weight gain in Japan and Finland.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Occupational class differences in body mass index and weight gain in Japan and Finland.

Similar Datasets

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