Targeting Policy for Obesity Prevention: Identifying the Critical Age for Weight Gain in Women
The obesity epidemic requires the development of prevention policy targeting individuals most likely to benefit. We used self-reported prepregnancy body weight of all women giving birth in Nova Scotia between 1988 and 2006 to define obesity and evaluated socioeconomic, demographic, and temporal tren...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Obesity |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/934895 |
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| _version_ | 1849408618807427072 |
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| author | Trevor J. B. Dummer Sara F. L. Kirk Tarra L. Penney Linda Dodds Louise Parker |
| author_facet | Trevor J. B. Dummer Sara F. L. Kirk Tarra L. Penney Linda Dodds Louise Parker |
| author_sort | Trevor J. B. Dummer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The obesity epidemic requires the development of prevention policy targeting individuals most likely to benefit. We used self-reported prepregnancy body weight of all women giving birth in Nova Scotia between 1988 and 2006 to define obesity and evaluated socioeconomic, demographic, and temporal trends in obesity using linear regression. There were 172,373 deliveries in this cohort of 110,743 women. Maternal body weight increased significantly by 0.5 kg per year from 1988, and lower income and rural residence were both associated significantly with increasing obesity. We estimated an additional 82,000 overweight or obese women in Nova Scotia in 2010, compared to the number that would be expected from obesity rates of just two decades ago. The critical age for weight gain was identified as being between 20 and 24 years. This age group is an important transition age between adolescence and adulthood when individuals first begin to accept responsibility for food planning, purchasing, and preparation. Policy and public health interventions must target those most at risk, namely, younger women and the socially deprived, whilst tackling the marketing of low-cost energy-dense foods at the expense of healthier options. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7c0faa4fbbdc43b580b2dfeef8a8fc9a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-0708 2090-0716 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Obesity |
| spelling | doaj-art-7c0faa4fbbdc43b580b2dfeef8a8fc9a2025-08-20T03:35:44ZengWileyJournal of Obesity2090-07082090-07162012-01-01201210.1155/2012/934895934895Targeting Policy for Obesity Prevention: Identifying the Critical Age for Weight Gain in WomenTrevor J. B. Dummer0Sara F. L. Kirk1Tarra L. Penney2Linda Dodds3Louise Parker4Population Cancer Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, 1494 Carlton Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, CanadaApplied Research Collaborations for Health, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, 1318 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3E2, CanadaApplied Research Collaborations for Health, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, 1318 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3E2, CanadaPerinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, 5850/5980 University Avenue, P.O. Box 9700, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, CanadaPopulation Cancer Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, 1494 Carlton Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, CanadaThe obesity epidemic requires the development of prevention policy targeting individuals most likely to benefit. We used self-reported prepregnancy body weight of all women giving birth in Nova Scotia between 1988 and 2006 to define obesity and evaluated socioeconomic, demographic, and temporal trends in obesity using linear regression. There were 172,373 deliveries in this cohort of 110,743 women. Maternal body weight increased significantly by 0.5 kg per year from 1988, and lower income and rural residence were both associated significantly with increasing obesity. We estimated an additional 82,000 overweight or obese women in Nova Scotia in 2010, compared to the number that would be expected from obesity rates of just two decades ago. The critical age for weight gain was identified as being between 20 and 24 years. This age group is an important transition age between adolescence and adulthood when individuals first begin to accept responsibility for food planning, purchasing, and preparation. Policy and public health interventions must target those most at risk, namely, younger women and the socially deprived, whilst tackling the marketing of low-cost energy-dense foods at the expense of healthier options.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/934895 |
| spellingShingle | Trevor J. B. Dummer Sara F. L. Kirk Tarra L. Penney Linda Dodds Louise Parker Targeting Policy for Obesity Prevention: Identifying the Critical Age for Weight Gain in Women Journal of Obesity |
| title | Targeting Policy for Obesity Prevention: Identifying the Critical Age for Weight Gain in Women |
| title_full | Targeting Policy for Obesity Prevention: Identifying the Critical Age for Weight Gain in Women |
| title_fullStr | Targeting Policy for Obesity Prevention: Identifying the Critical Age for Weight Gain in Women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting Policy for Obesity Prevention: Identifying the Critical Age for Weight Gain in Women |
| title_short | Targeting Policy for Obesity Prevention: Identifying the Critical Age for Weight Gain in Women |
| title_sort | targeting policy for obesity prevention identifying the critical age for weight gain in women |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/934895 |
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