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Unnamed Article
  • Ray Kirk
Ray Kirk
University of Canterbury

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Background: In New Zealand 31% of adults and one in nine children aged 2–14 years were obese in 2014/15. According to the 2014/15 New Zealand health survey, people who lived in the most deprived areas were almost two times more likely to be obese than those who lived in the least deprived areas.

Objectives: To assess the association between the area deprivation level and overweight/obesity rate. Also, this study conducted an exploratory analysis on the diabetes prevalence as to put obesity into a bigger picture in regards to its contribution to obesity-associated chronic diseases.

Method: The analyses were based on six series of surveys conducted from 2002/03 to 2014/15 in New Zealand. Area level deprivation data were assessed using New Zealand Deprivation Index, and the information was acquired from the Census data in 2002, 2006 and 2012. Proportional odds logistic regression with sampling weights was used to analyse the association while controlling for demographic information and health behaviours.

Results: Adults who lived in quintile 5 were more likely (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.33–1.60) to be in the higher Body Mass Index (BMI) category compared with those who lived in quintile 1, while the association was stronger in children (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.53–2.13).

Conclusion: Based on the representative nationwide dataset, we found that higher area deprivation level is significantly associated with higher likelihood of being in the higher BMI category after controlling for demographic information and health behaviours. Public health interventions targeting obesity should take into account the deprivation level and ethnic groups composition of the communities.