Obesity and socioeconomic disadvantage in midlife female public sector employees: a cohort study

BMC Public Health

Table 1 Characteristics of the study population by baseline (Phase 1) body weight

Baseline weight	Normal weight (BMI < 25) %	Overweight (25 < =BMI < 30) %	Obese (BMI= > 30) %	Total n
Participated
Phase 1	54	32	14	6913
Phase 2	54	32	14	5810
Phase 3	54	32	14	5400
Age (baseline)**
40	24	15	16	1400
45	24	20	19	1500
50	22	23	20	1523
55	21	27	31	1691
60	9	15	14	797
Mean age	48.2	50.1	50.2
Education (baseline)**
Compulsory education only	17	26	27	1455
Secondary education	53	55	56	3724
Higher education	29	19	17	1668
P value
Working full-time
Phase 1	93	94	93	0.250
Phase 2	74	64	62	<0.001
Phase 3	56	42	37	<0.001
Married or cohabiting
Phase 1	68	69	64	0.037
Phase 2	66	66	61	0.007
Phase 3	65	63	57	0.001
Low net household income
Phase 1	24	26	32	<0.001
Phase 2	22	27	29	<0.001
Phase 3	20	26	29	<0.001
Below poverty line
Phase 1	11	13	14	0,018
Phase 2	13	15	19	<0.001
Phase 3	8	11	14	<0.001
Frequent economic difficulties
Phase 1	20	24	29	<0.001
Phase 2	18	21	29	<0.001
Phase 3	16	20	27	<0.001
Low wealth⁺
Phase 2	19	22	29	<0.001
Phase 3	17	21	27	<0.001
Low personal income*
Phase 1	18	22	22	0,003
Phase 2	17	24	24	<0.001
Phase 3	17	23	26	<0.001

P values: differences between baseline weight groups (from χ2 test)
^*subgroup = only those who consented to record linkage and were employed by the Helsinki City throughout the study period (Phase 1 N = 4629, Phase 2 N = 3759, Phase 3 N = 2507)
^**Total 100% in columns
+ = no data from Phase 1

ISSN: 1471-2458