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The association of education with long-term weight change in the EPIC-PANACEA cohort

Rohrmann, S. ; Steinbrecher, A. ; Linseisen, J. ; Hermann, S. ; May, A. ; Luan, J. ; Ekelund, U. ; Overvad, K. ; Tjonneland, A. and Halkjaer, J. , et al. (2012) In European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 66(8). p.957-963
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cross-sectionally, educational attainment is strongly associated with the prevalence of obesity, but this association is less clear for weight change during adult life. The objective of this study is to examine the association between educational attainment and weight change during adult life in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). SUBJECTS/METHODS: EPIC is a cohort study with 361 467 participants and up to 10 years of follow-up. Educational attainment was categorized according to the highest obtained school level (primary school or less, vocational secondary training, other secondary education and university). Multivariate mixed-effects linear regression models were used to study... (More)
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cross-sectionally, educational attainment is strongly associated with the prevalence of obesity, but this association is less clear for weight change during adult life. The objective of this study is to examine the association between educational attainment and weight change during adult life in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). SUBJECTS/METHODS: EPIC is a cohort study with 361 467 participants and up to 10 years of follow-up. Educational attainment was categorized according to the highest obtained school level (primary school or less, vocational secondary training, other secondary education and university). Multivariate mixed-effects linear regression models were used to study education in relation to weight at age 20 years (self-reported), to annual change in weight between age 20 years and measured weight at recruitment, and to annual change in weight during follow-up time. RESULTS: Higher educational attainment was associated with on average a lower body mass index (BMI) at age 20 years and a lower increase in weight up to recruitment (highest vs lowest educational attainment in men: -60 g per year (95% confidence interval (CI) -80; -40), women -110 g per year (95% CI -130; -80)). Although during follow-up after recruitment an increase in body weight was observed in all educational levels, gain was lowest in men and women with a university degree (high vs low education -120 g per year (95% CI -150; -90) and -70 g per year (95% CI -90; -60), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Existing differences in BMI between higher and lower educated individuals at early adulthood became more pronounced during lifetime, which possibly impacts on obesity-related chronic disease risk in persons with lower educational attainment. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
education, BMI, weight change, cohort study, EPIC
in
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
volume
66
issue
8
pages
957 - 963
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • wos:000307236900013
  • scopus:84864841862
  • pmid:22669330
ISSN
1476-5640
DOI
10.1038/ejcn.2012.55
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
45d6d38a-30ba-4ef7-8224-075e792093ea (old id 3059621)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:29:14
date last changed
2022-04-11 12:31:39
@article{45d6d38a-30ba-4ef7-8224-075e792093ea,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cross-sectionally, educational attainment is strongly associated with the prevalence of obesity, but this association is less clear for weight change during adult life. The objective of this study is to examine the association between educational attainment and weight change during adult life in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). SUBJECTS/METHODS: EPIC is a cohort study with 361 467 participants and up to 10 years of follow-up. Educational attainment was categorized according to the highest obtained school level (primary school or less, vocational secondary training, other secondary education and university). Multivariate mixed-effects linear regression models were used to study education in relation to weight at age 20 years (self-reported), to annual change in weight between age 20 years and measured weight at recruitment, and to annual change in weight during follow-up time. RESULTS: Higher educational attainment was associated with on average a lower body mass index (BMI) at age 20 years and a lower increase in weight up to recruitment (highest vs lowest educational attainment in men: -60 g per year (95% confidence interval (CI) -80; -40), women -110 g per year (95% CI -130; -80)). Although during follow-up after recruitment an increase in body weight was observed in all educational levels, gain was lowest in men and women with a university degree (high vs low education -120 g per year (95% CI -150; -90) and -70 g per year (95% CI -90; -60), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Existing differences in BMI between higher and lower educated individuals at early adulthood became more pronounced during lifetime, which possibly impacts on obesity-related chronic disease risk in persons with lower educational attainment.}},
  author       = {{Rohrmann, S. and Steinbrecher, A. and Linseisen, J. and Hermann, S. and May, A. and Luan, J. and Ekelund, U. and Overvad, K. and Tjonneland, A. and Halkjaer, J. and Fagherazzi, G. and Boutron-Ruault, M-C and Clavel-Chapelon, F. and Agnoli, C. and Tumino, R. and Masala, G. and Mattiello, A. and Ricceri, F. and Travier, N. and Amiano, P. and Ardanaz, E. and Chirlaque, M-D and Sanchez, M-J and Rodriguez, L. and Nilsson, L. M. and Johansson, I. and Hedblad, Bo and Rosvall, Maria and Lund, E. and Braaten, T. and Naska, A. and Orfanos, P. and Trichopoulou, A. and van den Berg, S. and Bueno-de-Mesquita, H. B. and Bergmann, M. M. and Steffen, A. and Kaaks, R. and Teucher, B. and Wareham, N. J. and Khaw, K-T and Crowe, F. L. and Illner, A-K and Slimani, N. and Gallo, V. and Mouw, T. and Norat, T. and Peeters, P. H. M.}},
  issn         = {{1476-5640}},
  keywords     = {{education; BMI; weight change; cohort study; EPIC}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{957--963}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Clinical Nutrition}},
  title        = {{The association of education with long-term weight change in the EPIC-PANACEA cohort}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2012.55}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/ejcn.2012.55}},
  volume       = {{66}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}