The relationship between body mass index and socioeconomic status in New Zealand: ethnic and occupational factors.
OBJECTIVE
the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status (SES) was examined in a multiracial New Zealand workforce in order to investigate ethnic variations.


METHODS
an employed population of 5673 people were measured for weight and height and BMI calculated. Socioeconomic status was assigned using the UK Registrar General's scale.


RESULTS
both European women and men showed an inverse relationship of increasing BMI with decreasing SES which is typical of developed societies. Maori, Pacific Islanders and Asians did not, but neither did they show the direct relationship of developing societies. Examination of the components of SES showed that combined family income did not influence BMI in any ethnic group but that education was strongly associated with BMI in Europeans (p = 0.0001) and weakly associated in Maori (p = 0.0603), and occupation was strongly associated with BMI in Europeans (p = 0.0001) and weakly associated in Pacific Islanders (p = 0.0148) independently of education.


CONCLUSIONS
ethnic variations are partly explained by educational levels and occupation, but not by income. Increased education may decrease prevalence of obesity. Some occupational factors are discussed.
Dryson
E
E
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland.
Metcalf
P
P
Baker
J
J
Scragg
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D009790:Occupations; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors