Adolescent overweight and obesity in Ireland-Trends and sociodemographic associations between 1990 and 2020

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity in adolescence is a growing issue and can have a range of both short- and long-term consequences on health.

Objectives: To analyse trends in adolescent weight status in Ireland across a 30-year period and to examine the influence of sociodemographic factors on overweight/obesity in Irish adolescents over time.

Methods: Body composition and body mass index weight status of Irish adolescents were compared using data from three nationally representative, cross-sectional Irish national food consumption surveys from 1990, 2006 and 2020. Adjusted analysis of associations between socio-demographic factors with the risk of adolescent overweight/obesity at each time point were examined.

Results: The prevalence of Irish adolescents with overweight/obesity has increased significantly in recent years, with 24% of adolescents living with overweight/obesity in 2020 compared to 18% in 2006 and 13% in 1990 (p < 0.001). Of note is a substantial increase in the prevalence of obesity, with 8% of adolescents living with obesity in 2020 compared to 3% in 2006 and 0.5% in 1990 (p < 0.001). A lower affluence social class was associated with 3.95 increased odds of adolescent overweight/obesity (95%CI 2.06-7.61) (p < 0.001) in 2020 only, with 41% of adolescents from the lowest affluence social class affected by overweight/obesity. Parental education level was inversely associated with the risk of adolescent overweight/obesity in 2006 and 2020, with a stronger effect in 2020.

Conclusion: There is an increasing prevalence of adolescents living with overweight/obesity in Ireland, with evidence of a growing socioeconomic gradient of overweight/obesity where adolescents affected by socioeconomic disadvantage are most at risk.

Keywords: adolescent; obesity; overweight; social class; socioeconomic gradient; trends.