Differences in frequency of selected risk factors of overweight and obesity in adolescents in various social environments within Slovakia

Abstract

Objectives

Analysis of subnational regional differences in frequency of selected risk factors of overweight and obesity in adolescents in Slovakia.

Study design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

Health Behaviour in School-aged Children is an international cross-sectional questionnaire study using the standard protocol to create representative samples of adolescents. We analyse subnational regional differences in the occurrence of selected risk factors of overweight and obesity among 10-12-year-old (n = 4194) and 14-16-year-old (n = 3806) respondents of a survey conducted in Slovakia in 2022.

Results

Overweight and obesity dominated especially in the regions with the Hungarian minority among boys aged 10–12 years (29.2 %) and 14–16 years (34.0 %). Consumption of energy (24.9 % of girls and 29.9 % of boys) and sweetened (25.0 % of girls and 27.1 % of boys) drinks dominated among 14-16-year-old respondents in the poverty regions with socio-economic problems. Skipping breakfast was most widespread among 14-16-year-old girls from regions with a Hungarian minority (72.6 %). Insufficient physical activity was most frequent among 10-12-year-old respondents, namely, in the poverty regions (85.0 % of girls) and the Hungarian minority (79.6 % of boys) regions. The differences also remained significant after weighting for a possible confounding effect of family socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

The regional social environment is associated with selected aspects of adolescents’ behaviour related to overweight and obesity, namely, the poverty regions and Hungarian minority environments, and can be considered as an independent determinant regardless of a family background.