Academic Journal
Increasing trends in adult obesity in Greenland: a serial cross-sectional study from 1999 through 2018.
| Title: | Increasing trends in adult obesity in Greenland: a serial cross-sectional study from 1999 through 2018. |
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| Authors: | Nielsen H; Steno Diabetes Center Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.; Greenland Centre for Health Research, Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark., Landbo C; Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark., Senftleber N; Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark., Larsen CVL; Greenland Centre for Health Research, Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Centre for Public Health in Greenland, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark., Bjerregaard P; Centre for Public Health in Greenland, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark., Sørensen TIA; Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark., Jørgensen ME; Steno Diabetes Center Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Greenland Centre for Health Research, Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Centre for Public Health in Greenland, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark., Christensen DL; Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark., Byberg S; Steno Diabetes Center Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark. |
| Source: | International journal of circumpolar health [Int J Circumpolar Health] 2026 Dec 31; Vol. 85 (1), pp. 2686030. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 13. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Taylor & Francis Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9713056 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2242-3982 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 12399736 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Circumpolar Health Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2016- : Philadelphia, PA : Taylor & Francis Original Publication: Oulu, Finland : International Union for Circumpolar Health and the Nordic Society of Arctic Medicine, [1997- |
| MeSH Terms: | Obesity*/epidemiology , Obesity*/ethnology , Inuit*/statistics & numerical data, Greenland/epidemiology ; Arctic Regions/epidemiology ; Humans ; Female ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Young Adult ; Age Distribution ; Health Surveys ; Sex Distribution ; Adolescent |
| Abstract: | The prevalence of obesity has increased among Inuit populations across the Arctic, although some studies indicate stabilisation. The Greenlandic Inuit may exhibit distinct obesity patterns due to unique genetic factors and rapid societal transitions. We investigated temporal trends in obesity prevalence among adults in Greenland from 1999 to 2018 by age, sex and place of residence. We analysed data from serial cross-sectional Greenland Population Health Surveys conducted in 1999-2001 (N = 1,004), 2005-2010 (N = 3,031), 2014 (N = 511), and 2018 (N = 859). Obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m². The prevalence of obesity increased among all groups. Among women, the prevalence rose from 20.0% (95% CI 16.6, 23.4) in 1999 to 29.6% (95% CI 25.0, 34.2) in 2018; among men, it rose from 14.4% (95% CI 11.2, 17.6) to 22.2% (95% CI 18.5, 26.0). Women maintained a higher prevalence than men across all surveys. Age-specific patterns showed increases up to age 40, then plateaued in both sexes. Geographic differences among women diminished by 2018, whereas men in settlements consistently showed the lowest prevalence. The persistent rise across all demographic groups, combined with geographic convergence among women but not men, highlights the need for targeted, culturally appropriate public health strategies. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Greenland; Inuit Health; Obesity; epidemiology; serial cross-sectional study |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260613 Date Completed: 20260613 Latest Revision: 20260813 |
| Update Code: | 20260813 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13267018 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/22423982.2026.2686030 |
| PMID: | 42287270 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 2242-3982 |
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| DOI: | 10.1080/22423982.2026.2686030 |