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Gender divide in causes of obesity
Source: Agencies |
December 16, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
WOMEN who are poor are much more likely to be obese but men are not, according to American government researchers, whose report contradicts some commonly held perceptions.
They found income does not greatly affect whether a man is obese, but education seems to affect both sexes.
"Among men, obesity prevalence is generally similar at all income levels, and is slightly higher at higher income levels," the team at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) wrote.
Obesity is a growing problem for United States policy-makers. Two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, with 72 million US adults, or 26.7 percent, being obese, with a body mass index of 30 or more.
Several studies have linked obesity with both income and education.
The NCHS researchers used data from a national study of 5,000 people that is done every year.
Of the obese adults, 41 percent live in prosperous homes, bringing in at least US$77,000 a year for a family of four, or?350 percent of a poverty-level income.
They found 39 percent live in homes making between 130 and 350 percent of the poverty level, and 20 percent lived in poorer homes with incomes below 130 percent, or US$29,000 for a family of four.
But income does seem to affect a woman's weight. The researchers found 29 percent of women in well-to-do homes were obese, but the figure for women living below the poverty level was 42 percent.
Education plays an important role. Just over 27 percent of men with a college degree were obese, compared with 32 percent of those with less than a high school education. While 23 percent of women with a college degree were obese, compared to 42 percent of women with less than a high school education.
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
They found income does not greatly affect whether a man is obese, but education seems to affect both sexes.
"Among men, obesity prevalence is generally similar at all income levels, and is slightly higher at higher income levels," the team at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) wrote.
Obesity is a growing problem for United States policy-makers. Two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, with 72 million US adults, or 26.7 percent, being obese, with a body mass index of 30 or more.
Several studies have linked obesity with both income and education.
The NCHS researchers used data from a national study of 5,000 people that is done every year.
Of the obese adults, 41 percent live in prosperous homes, bringing in at least US$77,000 a year for a family of four, or?350 percent of a poverty-level income.
They found 39 percent live in homes making between 130 and 350 percent of the poverty level, and 20 percent lived in poorer homes with incomes below 130 percent, or US$29,000 for a family of four.
But income does seem to affect a woman's weight. The researchers found 29 percent of women in well-to-do homes were obese, but the figure for women living below the poverty level was 42 percent.
Education plays an important role. Just over 27 percent of men with a college degree were obese, compared with 32 percent of those with less than a high school education. While 23 percent of women with a college degree were obese, compared to 42 percent of women with less than a high school education.
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
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