TY - JOUR
T1 - Socioeconomic inequality of obesity in the United States
T2 - Do gender, age, and ethnicity matter?
AU - Zhang, Qi
AU - Wang, Youfa
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004/3
Y1 - 2004/3
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Body mass index
KW - Concentration index
KW - Inequality in health
KW - Obesity
KW - Socioeconomic status
KW - USA
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0346059470&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0346059470&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0277-9536(03)00288-0
DO - 10.1016/S0277-9536(03)00288-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 14723911
AN - SCOPUS:0346059470
VL - 58
SP - 1171
EP - 1180
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
SN - 0277-9536
IS - 6
ER -