BMI distribution/social stratification in Swiss conscripts from 1875 to present

Staub, Kaspar; Rühli, Frank J; Woitek, Ulrich; Pfister, Christian

doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.7

Cited by 35 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…These data yield a yearly picture of the anthropometric status of young men at a prescribed age [32]. Although the conscription process was not designed with epidemiological studies in mind, its data have been successfully used for medical and epidemiological research in Switzerland [33], [34], Austria [35] and Germany [36]. Despite its focus on male populations, the OWOB status of conscripts is a valuable tool for public-health research for two reasons: because being overweight in adolescence increases the risk of being overweight as an adult, and because particularly men's morbidity and mortality risks increase with age [37], [38].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socioeconomic, Temporal and Regional Variation in Body Mass Index among 188,537 Swiss Male Conscripts Born between 1986 and 1992

et al. 2014

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BackgroundRising levels of overweight and obesity are important public-health concerns worldwide. The purpose of this study is to elucidate their prevalence and trends in Switzerland by analyzing variations in Body Mass Index (BMI) of Swiss conscripts.MethodsThe conscription records were provided by the Swiss Army. This study focussed on conscripts 18.5–20.5 years of age from the seven one-year birth cohorts spanning the period 1986–1992. BMI across professional status, area-based socioeconomic position (abSEP), urbanicity and regions was analyzed. Two piecewise quantile regression models with linear splines for three birth-cohort groups were used to examine the association of median BMI with explanatory variables and to determine the extent to which BMI has varied over time.ResultsThe study population consisted of 188,537 individuals. Median BMI was 22.51 kg/m2 (22.45–22.57 95% confidence interval (CI)). BMI was lower among conscripts of high professional status (−0.46 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.50, −0.42, compared with low), living in areas of high abSEP (−0.11 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.16, −0.07 compared to medium) and from urban communities (−0.07 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.11, −0.03, compared with peri-urban). Comparing with Midland, median BMI was highest in the North-West (0.25 kg/m2; 95% CI: 0.19–0.30) and Central regions (0.11 kg/m2; 95% CI: 0.05–0.16) and lowest in the East (−0.19 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.24, −0.14) and Lake Geneva regions (−0.15 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.20, −0.09). Trajectories of regional BMI growth varied across birth cohorts, with median BMI remaining high in the Central and North-West regions, whereas stabilization and in some cases a decline were observed elsewhere.ConclusionsBMI of Swiss conscripts is associated with individual and abSEP and urbanicity. Results show regional variation in the levels and temporal trajectories of BMI growth and signal their possible slowdown among recent birth cohorts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socioeconomic, Temporal and Regional Variation in Body Mass Index among 188,537 Swiss Male Conscripts Born between 1986 and 1992

et al. 2014

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“…By contrast, long-term trends of an increasing body mass index (BMI) have been observed [6], [7]. It has been shown, that disability-free life expectancy has increased for more severe levels of disability or activity restrictions over the last decades [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in Inequalities in Health, Risk and Preventive Behaviour among the Advanced-Age Population in Austria: 1983-2007

et al. 2014

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BackgroundAlthough a number of previous research studies have focused on the long-term analysis of the health and health behaviour of the elderly, there is still a shortage of information in relation to the long-term trends regarding health or risk and preventive behaviour in the elderly population taking into account gender differences and differences in educational level.MethodsThe database comprised subsamples of the Austrian Micro-Census, including individuals aged 65 years and older, for the years 1983, 1991, 1999, and subsamples of the ATHIS (Austrian Health Interview Survey) 2007. A trend analysis was conducted for four health-related variables with the year of the survey and education as predictors. The analysis was stratified by sex.ResultsWe found a general trend towards better self-rated health, better preventive and less risk behaviour among the elderly, while the body mass index has been increasing over the years. There are indeed gender differences regarding the trend in smoking behaviour. While the prevalence of male smoking has been steadily decreasing, female smoking prevalence has not changed. At all points in time, individuals with higher education had significantly better self-rated health than those with lower education but the association between education and preventive behaviour significantly decreased over the years.ConclusionWe agree with previous research in concluding that preventive action and health promotion should aim in particular to support older women and men with lower education.

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“…Geneva was the first canton in Switzerland to establish a system of compulsory military service, conducting medical examinations of conscripts 50 years before conscription was standardised at the national level (Schoch et al, forthcoming;Staub et al, 2010;Staub, 2010). Apparently, these registers and the included individual data have not been preserved.…”

Section: The Results Of Mallet's Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Edouard Mallet's early and almost forgotten study of the average height of Genevan conscripts in 1835

Staub

Rühli

Bogin

et al. 2011

Economics & Human Biology

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In 1835, Edouard Mallet published a notable but today nearly forgotten study of the average height of Genevan conscripts. His individual data included 3 029 conscripts born between 1805 and 1814, examined and measured between 1826 and 1835. Mallet's work was only the third auxological study to be based on a large sample of individual conscript data, the other two being those of Louis-René Villermé and Adolphe Quetelet, but as far as we know Mallet's was the first to note the law of normal distribution. Like Villermé and Quetelet, Mallet explained urban/rural and international differences in average height strictly in terms of environmental and economic determinants. In the recent past, references to Mallet's work have been rare, and limited to citations of his computed averages. We postulate that Mallet and his study deserve greater consideration for their contribution to the field of anthropometric history than they have yet received. AbstractIn 1835, Edouard Mallet published a notable but today nearly forgotten study of the average height of Genevan conscripts. His individual data included 3 029 conscripts born between 1805 and 1814, examined and measured between 1826 and 1835. Mallet's work was only the third auxological study to be based on a large sample of individual conscript data, the other two being those of Louis-René Villermé and AdolpheQuetelet, but as far as we know Mallet's was the first to note the law of normal distribution. Like Villermé and Quetelet, Mallet explained urban/rural and international differences in average height strictly in terms of environmental and economic determinants. In the recent past, references to Mallet's work have been rare, and limited to citations of his computed averages. We postulate that Mallet and his study deserve greater consideration for their contribution to the field of anthropometric history than they have yet received.2

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BMI distribution/social stratification in Swiss conscripts from 1875 to present

Cited by 35 publications

References 36 publications

Socioeconomic, Temporal and Regional Variation in Body Mass Index among 188,537 Swiss Male Conscripts Born between 1986 and 1992

Socioeconomic, Temporal and Regional Variation in Body Mass Index among 188,537 Swiss Male Conscripts Born between 1986 and 1992

Trends in Inequalities in Health, Risk and Preventive Behaviour among the Advanced-Age Population in Austria: 1983-2007

Edouard Mallet's early and almost forgotten study of the average height of Genevan conscripts in 1835

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