Socioeconomic inequality of obesity in the United States: do gender, age, and ethnicity matter?

Qi Zhang and Youfa Wang

Social Science & Medicine, 2004, vol. 58, issue 6, 1171-1180

Abstract: This study introduces the concentration index (CI) to assess socioeconomic inequality in the distribution of obesity among American adults aged 18-60 years old. The CI provides a summary measure of socioeconomic inequality, and enabled comparisons across gender, age, and ethnicity. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, 1988-1994 (NHANES III) were used. The degree of socioeconomic inequality in obesity varied considerably across gender, age, and ethnic groups. Among women, we found a stronger, inverse association between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity compared with men, as well as greater socioeconomic inequality among middle-aged adults (41-49) compared to other age groups. Consistent with previous studies, we found remarkable ethnic differences in the relationship between SES and obesity. Although the extant literature documented a higher prevalence of obesity among minorities than in whites, our results presented a lower socioeconomic inequality in obesity within minority groups. Our analyses suggested that gender, age, and ethnicity could be important factors on socioeconomic inequality in obesity.

Keywords: Obesity; Body; mass; index; Inequality; in; health; Socioeconomic; status; Concentration; index; USA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (63)

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