title: Association between socioeconomic status and obesity in adults: evidence from the 2001 to 2009 Korea national health and nutrition examination survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study examined relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity and body mass index (BMI) as well as the effects of health-related behavioral and psychological factors on the relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on Korean adults aged 20 to 79 years using data from the 2001, 2005, and 2007 to 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate odds ratios of obesity and mean differences in BMI, respectively, across SES levels after controlling for health-related behavioral and psychological factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed significant gender-specific relationships of SES with obesity and BMI after adjusting for all covariates. In men, income, but not education, showed a slightly positive association with BMI (p<0.05 in 2001 and 2005). In women, education, but not income, was inversely associated with both obesity and BMI (p<0.0001 in all datasets). These relationships were attenuated with adjusting for health-related behavioral factors, not for psychological factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results confirmed gender-specific disparities in the associations of SES with obesity and BMI among adult Korean population. Focusing on intervention for health-related behaviors may be effective to reduce social inequalities in obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jihye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Shreela V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Sung Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class
keywords: Behavioral factors; Body mass index; Obesity; Psychological factors; Sex; Socioeconomic status
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