Changes in social inequalities in excess body weight and body dissatisfaction among adolescents in Barcelona, Spain, 2016–2021

Abstract

Objectives

Adolescence is a crucial life stage that can lead to excess weight and body dissatisfaction. Social inequalities in these issues may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to analyze the presence of socioeconomic inequalities and their changes in these inequalities stratified by sex in 13- to 19-year-olds in a large Mediterranean city (Barcelona, Spain).

Study design

Cross-sectional population-based study.

Methods

We used data from the 2016 and 2021 editions of the FRESC survey, which is a representative citywide survey that captures various aspects of adolescent health. Excess weight was determined by objective body mass index measurements. Body dissatisfaction was defined as the discrepancy between perceived and desired body shape. Socioeconomic status was divided into five pseudo-quintiles by using the Family Affluence Scale. We calculated the corresponding prevalence estimates and fitted robust Poisson regression models to estimate both simple and complex measures of inequality, including relative and absolute differences between the two survey years.

Results

The overall prevalence of excess weight increased from 25.3% [23.9–26.6] to 29.8% [28.2–31.4] between 2016 and 2021. Similarly, body dissatisfaction increased from 44.2% [42.6–45.8] to 60.4% [58.7–62]. Socioeconomic inequalities in excess weight significantly increased in girls (adjusted ratio of the relative index of inequalities = 1.72 [1.08; 2.74] but not in boys. No significant changes were detected in body dissatisfaction in either girls or boys.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the presence of a sex-specific change in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent well-being regarding excess weight and body dissatisfaction. These results underscore the need for local public policies to improve social equity in adolescent health.