The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Obesity

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Obesity

            Obesity is health issue that is commonly discussed throughout the United State. There are numerous studies that have been conducted to explain it. There are so many factors that influence obesity, that make it difficult to find the root to the problem. Of those factors, socioeconomic status(SES) is high on the obesity totem pole.

            The American Psychological Association defines socioeconomic status as “commonly conceptualized [ideas that] the social standing or class of an individual or group. It is often measured as a combination of education, income and occupation” (American Psychological Association, 2016). Obesity is defined as “weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height is described as overweight or obese. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is used as a screening tool for overweight or obesity” (Houle, 2013). Obesity levels have been on the rise for all socioeconomic groups, but it seems to affect some groups more than others. Researchers found that obesity rose with a nation’s economic development, but also that socioeconomic status as it related to obesity changed. In lower-income countries, people with higher SES were more likely to be obese. Conversely, in high-income countries, those with higher SES were less likely to be obese ( Houle, 2013).

The following chart shows that among men, obesity prevalence is generally similar at all income levels, with a tendency to be slightly higher at higher income levels. The Chart also shows that the prevalence of obesity increases as income decreases for women. The link between socio economic status and obesity tends to be more prevalent with women. Education level also plays a role in obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there is no significant trend between educational level and obesity prevalence. However, obesity prevalence increases as education decreases (CDC, 2008).

 

The National Survey of Children’s Health foundation found Children living in low-income neighborhoods are 20 percent to 60 percent more likely to be obese or overweight than children living in high socioeconomic status neighborhoods and healthier built environments (Socioeconomic and Obesity, n.d). Girls living in neighbor-hoods having lower socioeconomic characteristics are more likely to be obese than girls in neighborhoods with higher sociologic characteristics. The following graph shows different rates based on education level for girls:

 

            As the years pass obesity still remains on the high end of health issues. It’s difficult to concentrate on one factor when there are other factors that come into play. What is one to do when they don’t have the resources to eat a balanced and nutritional meal? How do you explain that because you can afford less national meals that it is not the best for you? Obesity amongst Americans will always be an issue. It is up to us to move it down on the totem pole.

 

References

American Pscychological Association (2016). Socioeconomic Status. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/topics/socioeconomic-status/ 

Centers for Disease Control (2008). Obesity and Socioeconomic Status in Children and Adolescents. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db51.htm

Houle, Brian (2013). Population Reference Bureau. How Obesity Relates to Socioeconomic Status. Retrieved from http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2013/obesity-socioeconomic-status.aspx

Socioeconomics and Obesity. (n.d.). Retrieved June 09, 2016, from http://stateofobesity.org/socioeconomics-obesity/