Sex differences in the association of socioeconomic status with obesity.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated socioeconomic predictors of obesity in men and women.


METHODS
Data from the 1996 Health Survey for England were used to compare odds ratios for obesity by education, occupation, and 2 economic markers after control for age, marital status, and ethnicity.


RESULTS
Obesity risk was greater among men and women with fewer years of education and poorer economic circumstances and among women, but not men, of lower occupational status.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher educational attainment and higher socioeconomic status were associated with a lower risk of obesity in both men and women, whereas higher occupational status was associated with a lower risk only for women. The implications of these findings for understanding causes and prevention of obesity are discussed.
Wardle
Jane
J
Cancer Research UK Health Behavior Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, England. j.wardle@ucl.ac.uk
Waller
Jo
J
Jarvis
Martin J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors