Are there still social inequalities in height and body mass index of Stockholm children?

Abstract

Height and body mass index (BMI) of all non-immigrant schoolchildren in Stockholm in the age interval 10.0–10.9 years born in 1981 were related to the mother's educational level and the number of siblings. The two social variables were dichotomized and two extreme groups of socially more and less privileged children were formed. Socially less privileged boys were 1.1 cm shorter than their more privileged peers, whereas there was no difference as regards girls. Socially less privileged children were expected to show higher BMI, but the finding was contrary. More privileged boys were heavier. The findings were compared to a previous study of Stockholm children born in 1933–1963. Major social inequalities in height were levelled out for Stockholm children in the 1950s, a social gap reappeared in the 1960s and small disparities still exist for boys today.

Keywords

Height body mass index schoolchildren 10-year-old mother's occupation number of siblings social inequality

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