Skip to main content

Table 5 Pen portraits for classification groups

From: A foresight whole systems obesity classification for the English UK biobank cohort

Younger, urban hard-pressed (13% of classified participants)

Participants in this class tend to be relatively younger than the full classification sample in UK Biobank, with an average age of 50.5 years. They also engage less with TV and use personal computers for recreational purposes the most. They live in a more urban setting, as typified by the low percentage of green space, the high number of food establishments close by and the low vehicle ownership. The neighbourhoods they live in are also the most deprived.

Comfortable, fit families (16% of classified participants)

These participants belong to the class with the youngest average age and the highest household size. They have good functional fitness, with high (standardised) hand grip strengths and peak expiratory flows. Satisfaction with health is relatively high and the proportion reporting excellent overall health is the highest of all classes. Stress levels are generally low, with participants reporting few stressful events and having a low pulse rate.

Healthy, active and retirees (11% of classified participants)

This is an older class of participants, having the second highest average age. The length of the working week is short, the proportion who are retired is higher than average and they take part in many leisure and social activities. Their diet is the healthiest, with high consumption of vegetables, fruit and lean meats. Those reporting excellent overall health is higher than average. They are located in neighbourhoods with low percentages of greenspace and many food establishments.

Content, rural and retirees (16% of classified participants)

A large proportion of these older participants are retired. They experience the least stress and have the longest sleep duration. They live in neighbourhoods with a high percentage of greenspace, are least deprived and have the fewest food establishments close by. Health satisfaction is higher than average, as is the proportion reporting overall excellent health. For those who work, job satisfaction is higher than average. This is the largest of the eight classes.

Comfortable professionals (13% of classified participants)

The participants in this class have the longest working week. Most are in employment and a large proportion are employed in managerial and professional occupations. While reported stress levels are about average, job satisfaction is lower than average. They also have the highest rate of household vehicle ownership, along with the smallest household size. They are the least likely to spend time outside during both summers and winters. This group live in the least deprived areas with higher than average green space.

Stressed and not in work (12% of classified participants)

This class of participants have the highest counts reporting stressful events and the highest pulse rate. A larger proportion than the sample average are looking after the home or family, are unable to work due to sickness/disability or are unemployed. Their function fitness is low, with low hand grip strength and peak expiratory flows and reported satisfaction with health is lower than average. This group watch a lot of TV but spend very little time on a personal computer. Their diet is relatively unhealthy with low consumption of vegetables and fruit, but alcohol consumption is low.

Deprived with less healthy lifestyles (11% of classified participants)

A distinctive feature of this class of participant is the number of years that they have been a smoker, by the far the highest of all classes. Their alcohol consumption is also high but their consumption of healthy food in the form of vegetables, fruit and lean meats are low. They live in neighbourhoods with moderate levels of deprivation. The proportion reporting being extremely or very happy with their health is lower than average. The proportion unable to work because of sickness or disability is relatively high, as is the proportion unemployed.

Active manual workers (8% of classified participants)

This final class are the most active, with a high metabolic equivalence score and many hours spent outside during the summer and winter. A large proportion of this group are male. The majority are employed with large representation in the skilled trades, process plant and machinery operatives and elementary occupations and jobs involve more walking, standing and physical tasks than seen in other groups. This group also have a long working week.