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OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN RURAL GIRLS FROM POLAND: CHANGES BETWEEN 1987 AND 2001

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 September 2012

MARIA CHRZANOWSKA ,
TERESA ŁASKA-MIERZEJEWSKA  and
AGNIESZKA SUDER
MARIA CHRZANOWSKA
Affiliation:
University School of Physical Education, Department of Anthropology, Cracow, Poland
TERESA ŁASKA-MIERZEJEWSKA
Affiliation:
Halina Konopacka Higher School of Physical Culture and Tourism, Pruszków, Poland
AGNIESZKA SUDER
Affiliation:
University School of Physical Education, Department of Anatomy, Cracow, Poland
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Summary

Several studies have documented increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in inhabitants of rural regions, but determinants of their prevalence are complex and not always in one direction. The aim of this study was to estimate both the prevalence and extent of overweight and obesity among rural girls in Poland between 1987 and 2001, as well as to assess differentiation of the phenomenon between regions of different social structures. The data come from two series of cross-sectional studies; the first in 1987 included 7764 girls, and the second in 2001 included 9431 girls aged 9–18. Body mass index (according to the International Obesity Task Force, IOTF) and the EOW index (extent of overweight), which shows by what mean BMI value the overweight boundaries are exceeded, were calculated. Overweight and obesity prevalences in the whole sample, were, respectively, 14.9% and 2.7% in 1987 and 15.5% and 2.5% in 2001, but significant differentiation in the direction of the changes was observed between the examined regions. In one of them, characterized by sudden, mass and long-term unemployment, there was a considerable decrease in overweight and obesity prevalence, whereas in a relatively wealthier region no changes were observed during the 14-year period. Two other regions with a relatively low standard of living and low incomes and education status presented a significant increase in overweight and obesity prevalence. The EOW index increased from 1.9 to 2.1 in the whole examined sample, and it also confirmed significant differences in expansion of overweight and obesity between the examined regions. The complex character of political and socioeconomic changes in Poland during the 1990s has resulted in two-directional changes in biological measures of living conditions. The analysis of the whole sample led to different results in comparison to separate analyses of each of the examined regions.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 45 , Issue 2 , March 2013 , pp. 217 - 229
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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