title: Influence of social factors on weight-related behaviors according to gender in the French adult population.
abstract: Although the prevalence of obesity is higher in low socioeconomic position (SEP), the relationship between SEP and body mass index (BMI) differs according to gender. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between BMI and SEP according to gender and explore the weight-related behaviors. In a cross-sectional survey, 1646 French adults were weighed and answered a questionnaire about eating behavior (DEBQ), SEP markers, ideal weight perception, physical activity and smoking. Our study showed that BMI was inversely correlated with SEP score in women only, independently of other BMI-associated factors (age, restrained eating, smoking status, TV viewing and physical activity). The SEP gradient was the same in both genders for some weight-related behaviors, such as restrained eating, physical activity and TV viewing, but differs for others, such as smoking and weight consciousness. There was an interaction between the SEP score and the actual BMI on the ideal BMI in women only, thus the difference in ideal body weight according to SEP is mainly due to difference in obese women. Our study concluded that gender differences in the relationship between BMI and SEP could be mainly due to the subjects' perception of weight appropriateness and their weight-related behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Unit, EA2694, UDSL, University of Lille Nord de France, Lille University Medical Center, F-59000 Lille, France. marie.pigeyre-2@univ-lille2.fr
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pigeyre
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duhamel
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Poulain
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rousseaux
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barbe
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeanneau
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tibère
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television