Prevalence of obesity according to sociodemographic strata in Argentina: trends and geographic differentials between 2005-2018

Abstract

Since obesity is recognized as a problem of poverty, the sociodemographic dimension becomes important in obesity research. In Argentina, evidence suggests that there are different nutritional profiles heterogeneously distributed across the territory; however, the socio-territorial dynamics of the obesity burden in specific population groups has been understudied. Thus, it was proposed to analyze the geographical distribution and dynamic of obesity prevalence in Argentina by selected sociodemographic strata, 2005-2018.

This multigroup ecological study used data from the National Survey of Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases (2005, n=41,392; 2009, n=34,934; 2013, n=32,365; 2018, n=29,224) to estimate the prevalence (%) of obesity (BMI>=30) in adults, specific by population group, at the provincial level (n= 24) and by year. The strata were defined according to sociodemographic factors: income level (by quintiles), education and poverty (based on
unsatisfied basic needs-UBN). Maps of obesity prevalence were constructed in temporal sequence and for each stratum.

Overall, all the population groups showed increasing trends in the obesity prevalence from 2005 to 2018, with geographical disparities. In the population with UBN, obesity prevalence was lower than 25% in all provinces in 2005, while 4 and 12 provinces exceeded 25% in 2013 and 2018, respectively. According to income level, the increasing trend was more noticeable in the population with low to medium income levels (quintiles 1-4). In the population with a medium income level, there was a marked increase in more than half of the provinces, which reported obesity prevalences above 25% in 2018. The prevalence of obesity showed different geographic patterns between the populations with complete university studies and without complete primary studies. This group had a higher prevalence for all the years studied.

In conclusion, an overall increasing trend was observed in the obesity prevalence in Argentina from 2005. Our results suggest that the obesity burden in this country follows a social gradient with noticeable geographic disparities.