The relation of gender, race and socioeconomic status to obesity and obesity comorbidities in a sample of US adults

OBJECTIVE:: To examine the obesity-related chronic diseases in the US adult population according to gender, race and socioeconomic status. METHODS:: Data from the 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (1994-1996 CSFII) conducted by the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural R...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Obesity 2002-09, Vol.26 (9), p.1205-1210
Main Authors: PAERATAKUL, S, LOVEJOY, J. C, RYAN, D. H, BRAY, G. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural research
Biological and medical sciences
Body mass index
Body weight
Cardiovascular diseases
Cholesterol
Education
Functional investigation of endocrine glands and genital system
Health risks
Hypertension
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Obesity
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomics
Womens health
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Summary:OBJECTIVE:: To examine the obesity-related chronic diseases in the US adult population according to gender, race and socioeconomic status. METHODS:: Data from the 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (1994-1996 CSFII) conducted by the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) were used in the analysis. Relevant data included self-reported weight and height, self-reported physician-diagnosed diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease and high serum cholesterol. Analysis was conducted according to gender, race, income level and education level. RESULTS:: There was a graded increase in diabetes, hypertension and high serum cholesterol with increasing body weight in nearly all gender, racial and socioeconomic groups. Among the obese individuals, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in black subjects and the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease was higher in individuals with lower education compared to their counterparts. The odds of having diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and high serum cholesterol increased with increasing body weight after adjusting for age, gender, race, income, education and smoking. CONCLUSION:: Although cross-sectional in nature, our results suggest that the disease burden associated with obesity in the population may be substantial. This burden increases with increasing severity of obesity. Our findings support the current opinion that, although the nature of obesity-related health risks is similar in all populations, the specific level of risk associated with a given level of obesity may be different depending on gender, race and socioeconomic condition. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY: (2002) 26, 1205-1210. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802026
ISSN:0307-0565
1476-5497
DOI:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802026