Health Study on the Environment, Biomonitoring, Physical Activity, and Nutrition (Esteban), 2014–2016. Nutrition Component. Chapter on Obesity

The National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS) was launched in 2001 by the Ministry of Health with the overall goal of improving public health by addressing one of its key determinants: nutrition. Initially planned for a five-year period (PNNS 1, 2001–2005), it was extended in 2006 (PNNS 2, 2006–2010) and again in 2011 (PNNS 3, 2011–2015). This third iteration of the PNNS included among its objectives the continuation of the National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS) in order to obtain reliable data on trends in nutritional surveillance. It is within this framework that Santé publique France established the Study on Health, the Environment, Biomonitoring, Physical Activity, and Nutrition (Esteban study) to meet objectives related to biomonitoring, surveillance of chronic diseases, and nutritional surveillance (diet, physical activity, and markers of nutritional status). The ESEN (Nutritional Surveillance and Epidemiology Team) was tasked with analyzing the Nutrition component of this study and comparing it with the results of the ENNS study. Esteban was conducted on a sample of children aged 6 to 17 and adults aged 18 to 74 residing in metropolitan France. Following a random selection based on a three-stage sampling design, subject enrollment took place from April 2014 to March 2016 to account for seasonal variations in diet and potential exposures. All participants were weighed and measured using specialized equipment and following standardized procedures by trained healthcare professionals. These measurements were taken as part of a health examination conducted at home by a state-certified nurse (IDE) or at a health examination center (CES) operated by the French national health insurance system. Among adults aged 18 to 74, in 2015, 54% of men and 44% of women were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25). This prevalence increased with age. The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) was estimated at 17%, with no distinction between men and women. In terms of trends between the ENNS-2006 and Esteban-2015 data, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among adults remained stable, at around 49%, and the specific prevalence of obesity remained at 17% for the entire adult population. The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) also remained higher among those with the lowest levels of education. Among children aged 6 to 17, in 2015, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was estimated at 17%, of whom 4% were obese. The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) decreased as the educational attainment of the household reference person increased. The prevalence of underweight was estimated at 13% overall and reached 19% among girls aged 11–14. Between 2006 and 2015, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among children remained stable. However, the prevalence of underweight increased significantly from 8% to 13%, with this increase primarily affecting girls aged 11–14. The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) remained higher among children whose household reference persons had the lowest educational attainment. Although not all of the targets set by the HCSP under the PNNS 3 were met (particularly those aimed at reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity), a comparison of the results of the Esteban and ENNS surveys conducted 10 years apart indicates a stabilization of overweight and obesity rates among children and adults. France was one of the first countries in the world to show a trend toward stabilization in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children; it appears that the situation is also stabilizing among adults. However, educational attainment continues to influence body weight. These results therefore confirm the need to take social health inequalities into account when defining and implementing public health policies. This chapter will soon be supplemented by others covering physical activity and sedentary behavior, dietary habits, and the results of the biological component.

Publishing year: 2017

Pages: 42 p.

Collection: Nutrition

In relation to

Our latest news

news

2026 “Sexual Behavior” Survey (ERAS) for men who have sex with men

news

Hervé Maisonneuve has been appointed scientific integrity officer for a...

Visuel illustratif

news

Public Health France 2026 Barometer: Launch of the Survey