26kgg470 10.3205/26kgg470 urn:nbn:de:0183-26kgg4703 Meeting Abstract Reinmuth Reinmuth Janina J

Universität Konstanz, Fachbereich Geschichte, Soziologie, Sportwissenschaft und empirische Bildungsforschung, Konstanz, Deutschland

author Bertogg Bertogg Ariane A

Universität Konstanz, Fachbereich Geschichte, Soziologie, Sportwissenschaft und empirische Bildungsforschung, Konstanz, Deutschland

author Starker Starker Anna A

Robert Koch-Institut, FG27 Gesundheitsverhalten, Deutschland

author Beese Beese Florian F

Robert Koch-Institut, FG28 Soziale Determinanten der Gesundheit, Deutschland

author Loss Loss Julika J

Robert Koch-Institut, FG27 Gesundheitsverhalten, Deutschland

author Schienkiewitz Schienkiewitz Anja A

Robert Koch-Institut, FG27 Gesundheitsverhalten, Deutschland

author German Medical Science GMS Publishing House

Düsseldorf

610 20251030 engl This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). M0662 470 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sozialmedizin und Prävention Netzwerk Evidenzbasierte Medizin e.V. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizinische Soziologie 60. Kongress für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin Gesundheit gestalten Junge Perspektiven: Vortragssession Göttingen 20260930 20261002 JP-V-01-05 TextBackground: Obesity remains a critical public health challenge driven by complex factors with education as a key determinant. While prevalence has risen in Germany, the burden is unequally distributed across educational groups. However, no study has systematically examined how educational inequalities in obesity vary across age groups and birth cohorts in Germany, limiting understanding of their development over the life course.Aim/scientific question: This study examines the trend of educational inequalities in obesity in Germany (2003–2024) and analyses differences across age groups and birth cohorts.Material & Methods: RKI health monitoring data (2003–2024; n=170,349) was used. Slope Index of Inequality and Relative Index of Inequality trends were estimated, complemented by age- and cohort-specific logistic regressions to assess associations between education and obesity.Results: Absolute and relative educational inequalities in obesity remained high over time, especially among women, with only relative inequality among women decreasing significantly. Differences in predicted obesity prevalence by education were observed across most age groups without widening over age. In contrast, cohort analyses showed widening gradients, indicating that educational inequalities in obesity are stronger and obesity prevalence is higher in more recent birth cohorts, reaching 45–60% in low-educated groups born after 1980.Discussion: Educational inequalities remained high for both sexes, with the observed decline in relative inequality among women likely reflecting rising overall prevalence rather than improved equity. Inequalities are already established by early adulthood and persist across the life course. Cohort analyses further suggest a shift towards earlier and more pronounced disparities in younger generations, indicating cumulative disadvantage over time and increasing long-term population burden. As these cohorts have not yet reached peak obesity levels, further increases in population-level inequalities are expected.Take Home Message: Educational inequalities in obesity remain high and are likely to increase due to cohort effects. Younger cohorts, particularly those with low education, already show concerningly high prevalence levels, highlighting the need for early and targeted prevention strategies.Competing interests: None 0 0 0 0