Gender-Specific Disparities in Obesity
Little prior research has investigated whether the correlates of obesity differ between men and women. The objective of this study was to examine gender-specific disparities in obesity by rurality of residence, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Particular emphasis was devoted to examining potential differences between residents of urban, suburban, and rural areas. Data from the adult version of the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for the state of Texas were used to model the crude and adjusted odds of being obese as compared to normal weight. The findings showed that males of other race/ethnicity had lower adjusted odds of obesity than non-Hispanic whites, but other race/ethnicity was insignificant for females. Females who were Hispanic or black/African American had higher adjusted odds of obesity than non-Hispanic whites, but Hispanic ethnicity and black/ African American race were insignificant for males. Men and women residing in non-metropolitan areas had higher adjusted odds of obesity than their counterparts in metropolitan areas. No economic disparities were revealed among men, but females with high household income had lower odds of obesity than those with low income. Educational status was insignificant for men and women. The findings suggest that programs and policies aimed at curbing obesity should target males and females residing in non-metropolitan localities. Other initiatives should focus on particular groups of women, including those who are Hispanic or black/ African American and have low household income.
Obesity is frequently cited as one of America's more pressing public health problems. Although its incidence appears to be steadying, a substantial proportion of adult Americans remain obese. According to estimates from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey (NHANES), 27.3 percent of adult Americans are moderately or severely obese. Obesity is of national public health concern not only because of its exorbitant prevalence, but also because of its deleterious effects on health status. Several studies have linked obesity to an increased risk of chronic disease, poor health-related quality of life, and functional disability. In fact, the public health impact of obesity has been shown to exceed that of two other behavioral problems, smoking and heavy alcohol use.
Because obesity can be considered a personal behavioral choice, one could argue that public interventions are unwarranted. An important argument in favor of governmental involvement concerns the substantial costs attributable to obesity, which have been estimated to range between 5.3 and 5.7 percent of overall medical care expenditures. The medical care spending associated with obesity is notably higher among members of the government-funded Medicaid (6.7 percent) and Medicare (6.5 percent) insurance programs.
As public health policy makers and practitioners expand programs aimed at combating obesity, additional research is needed to identify high risk population subgroups. Prior research has indicated that residents of rural areas, ethnic and racial minorities, and persons with low socioeconomic status are particularly vulnerable to health problems and the federal government has placed a great deal of emphasis on research and programs aimed at reducing such disparities. A report by the U.S. Surgeon General described disparities in the prevalence of obesity, but with the exception of a few studies conducted in the United States and other countries, a dearth of research has investigated disparities after adjusting for potential confounders. The present study examined differences in obesity according to rurality of residence, ethnicity or race, and socioeconomic status after controlling for extraneous demographic, social, behavioral, and psychological variables. Because prior research has revealed sex differences in the predictors of obesity, separate models were tested for males and females.
Little prior research has investigated whether the correlates of obesity differ between men and women. The objective of this study was to examine gender-specific disparities in obesity by rurality of residence, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Particular emphasis was devoted to examining potential differences between residents of urban, suburban, and rural areas. Data from the adult version of the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for the state of Texas were used to model the crude and adjusted odds of being obese as compared to normal weight. The findings showed that males of other race/ethnicity had lower adjusted odds of obesity than non-Hispanic whites, but other race/ethnicity was insignificant for females. Females who were Hispanic or black/African American had higher adjusted odds of obesity than non-Hispanic whites, but Hispanic ethnicity and black/ African American race were insignificant for males. Men and women residing in non-metropolitan areas had higher adjusted odds of obesity than their counterparts in metropolitan areas. No economic disparities were revealed among men, but females with high household income had lower odds of obesity than those with low income. Educational status was insignificant for men and women. The findings suggest that programs and policies aimed at curbing obesity should target males and females residing in non-metropolitan localities. Other initiatives should focus on particular groups of women, including those who are Hispanic or black/ African American and have low household income.
Obesity is frequently cited as one of America's more pressing public health problems. Although its incidence appears to be steadying, a substantial proportion of adult Americans remain obese. According to estimates from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey (NHANES), 27.3 percent of adult Americans are moderately or severely obese. Obesity is of national public health concern not only because of its exorbitant prevalence, but also because of its deleterious effects on health status. Several studies have linked obesity to an increased risk of chronic disease, poor health-related quality of life, and functional disability. In fact, the public health impact of obesity has been shown to exceed that of two other behavioral problems, smoking and heavy alcohol use.
Because obesity can be considered a personal behavioral choice, one could argue that public interventions are unwarranted. An important argument in favor of governmental involvement concerns the substantial costs attributable to obesity, which have been estimated to range between 5.3 and 5.7 percent of overall medical care expenditures. The medical care spending associated with obesity is notably higher among members of the government-funded Medicaid (6.7 percent) and Medicare (6.5 percent) insurance programs.
As public health policy makers and practitioners expand programs aimed at combating obesity, additional research is needed to identify high risk population subgroups. Prior research has indicated that residents of rural areas, ethnic and racial minorities, and persons with low socioeconomic status are particularly vulnerable to health problems and the federal government has placed a great deal of emphasis on research and programs aimed at reducing such disparities. A report by the U.S. Surgeon General described disparities in the prevalence of obesity, but with the exception of a few studies conducted in the United States and other countries, a dearth of research has investigated disparities after adjusting for potential confounders. The present study examined differences in obesity according to rurality of residence, ethnicity or race, and socioeconomic status after controlling for extraneous demographic, social, behavioral, and psychological variables. Because prior research has revealed sex differences in the predictors of obesity, separate models were tested for males and females.
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