Association between overweight and educational level in the Brazilian adult population: analysis of VIGITEL 2022

Background: Overweight and obesity are escalating public health concerns in Brazil, with socioeconomic factors like educational level potentially influencing prevalence. This study examines the association between overweight and educational attainment using national surveillance data.Methods: We analyzed data from the 2022 Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL), a telephone-based survey of adults (≥18 years) in Brazil's 26 state capitals and the Federal District (n≈27,000). Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m². Variables included educational level (0-8, 9-11, ≥12 years), sex, age, and region. Prevalence was calculated with stratification; chi-square tests assessed differences, and logistic regression evaluated associations, adjusting for confounders. Results: Overweight prevalence was 61.4%, higher among those with lower education (64.3% for 0-8 years vs. 59.3% for ≥12 years; p<0.05). Men showed higher overweight rates (63.4%) than women (59.6%). Prevalence increased with age up to 45-54 years. Logistic regression indicated lower education increased overweight odds (OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.12-1.39 for 0-8 vs. ≥12 years). Conclusions: An inverse association exists between educational level and overweight, highlighting socioeconomic disparities. Public health interventions should target low-education groups to mitigate obesity-related burdens.