Socio-demographic inequalities in overweight and obesity among Lithuanian adults: time trends from 1994 to 2014

Aim: The aim was to examine trends in socio-demographic differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Lithuanian adult population from 1994 to 2014. Methods: The data from 11 postal surveys were analysed. For every survey, a nationally representative random sample aged 20-64 was drawn from the National Population Register. The sample consisted of 3000 individuals in each of the 1994-2008 surveys and 4000 in the last three surveys. Altogether, 8738 men and 11,822 women participated in the surveys. Self-reported weight and height were used to calculate BMI. Results: From 1994 to 2014, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in all socio-demographic groups of men, reaching 58.6% and 19.5% respectively. Highly educated men and those living in cities had higher BMI values than lower educated and non-urban inhabitants without substantial changes in the differences in BMI over the study period. In women, the prevalence of overweight decreased from 51.7% to 46%, whereas the prevalence of obesity did not change being 19.2% in 2014. Overweight and obesity were more common among lower educated women and those living in non-urban areas than in the others. Educational inequalities in weight status of women increased due to the decrease of BMI only in women with university education. Conclusions: Time trends in BMI were more pronounced among Lithuanian men than women, whereas socio-demographic inequalities were greater among women. The strategies for prevention and control of obesity should target all men and women with lower education and living in non-urban areas of Lithuania.