Area-Level Socioeconomic Disparities Impact Adult Overweight and Obesity Risks of Han Ethnicity in China

ObjectivesThe profound socioeconomic processes occurring in developing countries have been accompanied by the notable increase of overweight and obese populations. This study for the first time investigates the impact of area-based socioeconomic status (SES) on adult overweight and obesity for both sexes of Han ethnicity in China. MethodsWe investigated 6,221 adult participants of Han ethnicity from 18 geographic areas in China, and measured stature and weight for each participant. The mean annual income per individual was chosen as the area-level SES index. We adopted logistic regression analysis to explore the relationship of area-level SES with overweight and obesity. ResultsThe age-adjusted overweight and obesity prevalence was 32.46% for men and 29.27% for women respectively. Substantial area-level SES disparity in overweight and obesity risks for both sexes exist in China. The overweight and obesity prevalence rates increased with increasing SES levels in men rather than in women. ConclusionMen living in high SES areas as well as women living at the lowest SES areas were most likely to be at the highest risk of overweight and obesity in China. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:129-132, 2015. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.