title: Income adequacy and education associated with the prevalence of obesity in rural Saskatchewan, Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is prevalent in rural communities in Canada, however little is known about the social determinants of health and obesity in rural populations. Socioeconomic status has been found to be inversely associated with the risk of obesity in developed countries. This study investigated the relationship between income adequacy, education and obesity in a rural setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used data from 5391 adults aged 18-69 who participated in the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study in 2010. Participants completed a survey that included questions about location of residence, body weight, height, and socio-demographic and behavioral factors. Obesity was defined as body mass index being ≥ 30 kg/m(2). Logistic regression using generalized estimating equation was conducted to assess the associations of income adequacy and education level with the prevalence of obesity taking covariates into consideration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately a third of the participants were obese and the prevalence of obesity was similar for men and women. The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher for rural residents not living on farm compared with those living on farm (p < 0.05). After adjustment for potential confounders, the risk of obesity was increased for those with ≤ 12 years of education compared with those with > 12 years of education (aOR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05-1.34). Low income adequacy was significantly associated with an increased risk of obesity but only among those not living on farm (aOR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.16-2.79).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Home location was associated with obesity prevalence in rural Saskatchewan and modified the influence of income adequacy, but not the influence of education, on obesity. Adults not living on farm had an increased risk of obesity and showed a significant impact of income adequacy on obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Yue.Chen@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada. donna.rennie@usask.ca.|College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. donna.rennie@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Donna C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Rennie
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada. cpk646@mail.usask.ca.
authors.forename: Chandima P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Karunanayake
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. bonnie.janzen@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Janzen
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada. louise.hagel@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hagel
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. will.pickett@queensu.ca.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pickett
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. roland.dyck@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dyck
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada. jal226@mail.usask.ca.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada. james.dosman@usask.ca.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dosman
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada. pup165@mail.usask.ca.
authors.forename: Punam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pahwa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult