Trends and key disparities of obesity among US adolescents: the NHANES from 2007 to 2020

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to estimate the trends in the body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of obesity among United States (U.S.) adolescents (10-19 years), and to examine the associations between sociodemographic factors and both BMI and obesity prevalence. The 2007-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationally representative repeated cross- sectional survey data (n = 9,826) were used. Outcomes included: 1) Mean BMI and 2) obesity (yes/no; defined as BMI ≥ 95% percentile). Sociodemographic variables included age, sex, race/ethnicity, and poverty income ratio (PIR; low-income <1.3, Middle-income ≥1.3 and <3.5, high-income ≥3.5). By accounting for the complex survey design, weighted generalized linear/Poisson models were used to conduct the analyses. Girls constituted 49 % of the sample. From 2007-2008 to 2017-2020, BMI and obesity prevalence increased across various subgroups, including Black and Hispanic adolescents, boys, and those from low- and middle-income families. Girls are a 12% lower likelihood of being obese than boys. Compared to White adolescents, Black and Hispanic adolescents had 22% and 19% greater risk of being obese. Compared to those from high-income families, adolescents from low- and middle-income families had 62% and 47% greater risk of being obese, respectively. The results indicated persistent disparities in obesity prevalence among different race/ethnic and sociodemographic groups. Future obesity intervention should address key disparities by targeting specific race/ethnic adolescents from low-income families and promoting health equality.