Latest news with #socioeconomicstatus
Medscape
03-06-2025
- Business
- Medscape
Effects of BMI and Socioeconomic Status on GWG
Body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic position, and mental health were key determinants of unhealthy gestational weight gain (GWG) among UK women. METHODOLOGY: Researchers performed a secondary analysis of the Born in Bradford cohort to evaluate determinants of unhealthy GWG among UK women. They included 7769 singleton pregnancies and live, term births (≥ 37 to ≤ 42 weeks' gestation). Maternal weight was measured at the first antenatal appointment (median, 11 weeks), study recruitment (~26-28 weeks' gestation; height also recorded), and third trimester (median, 36 weeks); baseline BMI was assessed, and mental health was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire-28. GWG was categorised as less than the recommended weight gain (RWG), RWG, and more than the RWG on the basis of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2009 criteria for weekly average weight gain. TAKEAWAY: Only 22.4% of women achieved the recommended GWG; 20.3% gained less and 57.3% gained more than the recommended GWG. Compared with women with a healthy baseline BMI, women with underweight (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.78; P < .001), overweight (aOR, 1.37; P < .001), and obesity (aOR, 1.30; P = .014) had higher odds of gaining less weight than the RWG. < .001), overweight (aOR, 1.37; < .001), and obesity (aOR, 1.30; = .014) had higher odds of gaining less weight than the RWG. Women in the "benefits but coping" socioeconomic class (aOR, 1.42; P = .002) and those in the "most deprived" category (aOR, 1.37; P = .014) had higher odds of having GWG below the RWG. = .002) and those in the "most deprived" category (aOR, 1.37; = .014) had higher odds of having GWG below the RWG. Women with underweight had lower odds of experiencing GWG above the RWG (aOR, 0.58; P < .001), whereas those with overweight (aOR, 3.56) and obesity (OR, 5.86; P < .001 for both) had dramatically higher odds. Pregnancies with a high risk for psychiatric morbidity were linked to increased odds of having GWG above the RWG (aOR, 1.22; P = .003). IN PRACTICE: "Our results may help inform organisations on which groups of women are at greater risk of unhealthy weight gain during pregnancy, such as those with mental health issues, unhealthy baseline BMI, and/or facing economic deprivation," the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Petra A.T. Araujo, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, England. It was published online on May 23, 2025, in PLOS One . LIMITATIONS: Obtaining accurate GWG measurements posed challenges due to the varying timing of measurements and lack of universal pre-pregnancy weight data. The IOM-recommended criteria might not be optimal for non-US populations and do not initially account for ethnic differences. The study cohort lacked data on late third trimester weight, restricting the ability to assess the absolute GWG. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by an Intermediate Research Fellowship from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. The authors declared having no competing interests.
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Early air pollution exposure affects health in adolescence, study finds
Young children who are exposed to high levels of air pollution are more likely to experience poor health outcomes in later adolescence, according to new research. The study, conducted by academics at University College London, looked at data from 9,000 young people taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study between 2000 and 2002 across the UK, measuring their exposure to various types of air pollutants including PM2.5, PM10 and NO2. The results found that adolescents who lived in polluted areas during early childhood, aged two to four, had a risk up to a third higher of reporting worse health when aged between five and seven. The study also found that children from ethnic minority backgrounds and deprived neighbourhoods tended to be exposed to higher levels of air pollution, resulting in them being more likely to experience poorer health and chronic conditions. Dr Gergo Baranyi, the lead author of the research, said: 'This study is unique from the perspective that it is nationally representative, making our findings generalisable to the UK population, and that we were able to follow up with children from birth to nearly 20 years of age. 'I think one of the most important finding was seeing the large inequalities in terms of exposure to different air pollutants, and how these inequalities between different socioeconomic groups and ethnic minority groups persisted during childhood.' He added: 'One of the reasons why there is higher air pollution among ethnic minorities is because they are mainly living in urban areas, and also in more deprived neighbourhoods. Air pollution affects health because tiny particles are able to penetrate the respiratory tract, which is able to get into the bloodstream and even enter the brain. 'The two main takeaway messages of the study are the identification of a sensitive period for air pollution exposure between age three and six years, and the persistent inequalities in terms of exposure among ethnic minority groups and among disadvantaged individuals. Follow-up studies will aim to identify what specific disorders or health problems are related to this exposure window.' Jenny Bates, from Friends of the Earth, said: 'Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health and can affect every organ in the body as deadly particles get from our lungs into our bloodstream. 'Recent research by Friends of the Earth shows that air pollution not only disproportionately affects low-income areas and those with higher populations of people of colour, but also that households in the most polluted neighbourhoods are three times less likely to own a car than those in cleaner areas.' She added: 'The government must act now to strengthen air pollution targets – just as the EU has – bringing them in line with the latest World Health Organization health guidelines. 'The government should also tackle air pollution in its upcoming climate plan, which must ensure that everyone benefits from the transition to a low-carbon future through cleaner air, warmer homes, cheaper energy bills and sustainable jobs in green industries.'
