Disparities in dietary habits and physical activity in Denmark and trends from 1995 to 2008.

AIMS: To examine social disparities in dietary-, alcohol- and leisure-time physical activity habits in Danish adults from 1995 to 2008 and to test the hypothesis of widening disparities. METHODS: Four cross-sectional surveys of representative samples of the Danish population aged 20-75 years were analysed, a total of 7900 respondents. Dietary and alcohol habits were measured by a 7-day pre-coded food diary and physical activity and education by a face-to-face interview. Multivariate analyses were used to test associations between explanatory variables and response variables and the hypothesis of widening disparities. RESULTS: In all analyses, both diet quality and physical inactivity differed systematically with educational group and with healthier habits for the group with long education. Only for alcohol habits was an opposite social gradient seen. Disparities persisted over all time periods. The analyses using "The Concentration Index" did not change any of the conclusions. Gender also influenced diet quality. Men had dietary and alcohol habits furthest away from the guidelines. A trend of healthier habits was also found over the time period. CONCLUSIONS: Social disparities in diet quality and leisure-time physical activity were seen for all examined time periods and with no significant change therefore, there is no support to the hypothesis of widening social disparities in all educational groups some improvement of dietary habits was found, especially for those foods where comprehensive initiatives had taken place however, social disparities still exist there is an ongoing need to address these disparities in order to reduce social inequality in health.

Trends in overweight and obesity in Danish children and adolescents: 2000-2008--exploring changes according to parental education.

AIMS: To examine the hypotheses that an overall levelling off in the prevalence of overweight and obesity during the period 2000-2008 has occurred, and that increasing social inequality in overweight and obesity exists in a nationally representative sample of Danish children and adolescents. METHODS: The population comprised a random sample of 1849 children aged 4-14 years who participated in the Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity in 2000-2002, 2003-2004 and 2005-2008. Parental education was chosen as an indicator of children's socioeconomic status. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from parent-reported weight and height. Subjects were classified as overweight and obese according to the International Obesity Task Force age- and gender-specific BMI cut-off values. Crude prevalence estimates and logistic regression models were used to analyse trends in overweight and obesity as the main outcome measures. RESULTS: An increase was found in the crude prevalence of overweight (including obesity) in boys (12.8-21.7%, p = 0.0006), but not in girls (17.6-15.9%, p = 0.56), between 2000-2002 and 2005-2008. The prevalence of overweight increased significantly in boys of parents with low educational level only. A strong inverse social gradient in overweight and obesity was documented for boys and girls during the whole survey period. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed an increase in the prevalence of overweight in Danish boys, but not in girls. This increase was due to increasing social inequality in overweight among boys. Public health initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing overweight and obesity should consider gender difference and especially target boys with parents of low educational level.

Misperception of body weight among overweight Danish adults: trends from 1995 to 2008.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in the prevalence of overweight and weight misperception among overweight Danes from 1995 to 2008, and to identify factors associated with weight misperception. DESIGN: Cross-sectional studies, in which data on self-reported weight, height and self-perception of overweight status were obtained through face-to-face interviews. 'Overweight' includes obesity. Weight misperception was defined as overweight individuals who did not perceive themselves as overweight. The χ 2 test was used to analyse changes over time and multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to identify factors associated with weight misperception. SETTING: The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity in three periods: 1995, 2000-2004 and 2005-2008. SUBJECTS: A random sample of 9623 Danes aged 15-75 years. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight increased in men and women from 1995 to 2005-2008 (from 35·1 % to 43·0 %, P < 0·001). Concurrently, there was a reduction in the proportion of overweight men (from 77·5 % to 71·4 %, P = 0·001) and women (from 54·8 % to 51·9 %, P = 0·24) who misperceived their weight. Factors associated with weight misperception were 'never intend to eat healthily' (men), high levels of leisure-time physical activity, 'very good/excellent' self-rated health and survey year (higher misperception in 2000-2004 than 2005-2008; P < 0·05). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in overweight from 1995 to 2005-2008 was accompanied by a reduction in the proportion of overweight men misperceiving their weight. This may indicate that more men see overweight as a personally relevant health problem. Our findings also suggest that overweight individuals who are more physically active and have better self-rated health may not consider their excess weight a health problem.

[Association between alcohol intake and diet quality]. / Sammenhaengen mellem alkoholindtag og kostkvalitet.

INTRODUCTION: Since 1995 the Danish national dietary surveys have shown an increased alcohol intake in the Danish population. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between diet quality, alcohol intake and drinking pattern. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Danish National Dietary Survey 2000-2002 included 3,151 adults (1,684 women, 1,467 men; 18-75 years). The participants recorded their intake of food and beverages daily for seven consecutive days. For each individual, a diet quality index was calculated based on the intake of dietary fibre and saturated fat in relation to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR). RESULTS: A poorer diet quality was observed both with increased alcohol intake (units per week) and with number of weekly drinking days. In both cases, the trend was more pronounced for men than for women. The group of men and women with the highest diet quality had a mean alcohol consumption, which was in agreement with the NNR, and fewer drinking days per week than groups with a lower diet quality. CONCLUSION: Increased alcohol intake is associated with lower diet quality. The results from the present study support the NNR recommendations for alcohol intake and the introduction of a number of alcohol free days each week.