Socioeconomic differences in obese patients with and without eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to evaluate whether there are any socioeconomic differences in obese patients with and without eating disorders.


METHODS
567 obese participants referred to obesity treatment were divided into one eating-disordered group and one group without eating disorders. Those groups were compared regarding four socioeconomic variables: education, occupational status, daily occupation and housing area.


RESULTS
The prevalence of eating disorders in the sample was 9.8%. Female participants with an eating disorder (ED) had a higher BMI than female participants without an ED. Women with an ED were more often actively occupied, implying that they at the present time were working or studying, and they were also more frequently living in a lower income housing area. No statistically significant differences were found for education or occupational status.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that prevalence of eating disorders does not differ as a function of education or occupational status in patients referred to obesity treatment, but that differences in daily occupation and housing area can prevail for the women in particular.
Bergström
H
H
Obesity Unit M73, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. helena.a.bergstrom@sll.se
Elfhag
K
K
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011203:Poverty; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden