International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 28, 445-449, Copyright © 1999 by International Epidemiological Association
S Sarlio-Lahteenkorva and E Lahelma
BACKGROUND: Although an inverse relationship between socioeconomic status
and body mass index (BMI) is well documented, broad population studies
focusing on the association between BMI and various forms of disadvantage
such as unemployment, low income or social isolation are rare. METHODS: A
nationwide, representative sample of 25-64-year-old Finnish subjects (n =
6016) was classified according to their BMI into four groups: 'thin' (BMI
< 20), 'normal' (BMI 20-24.9), 'overweight' (BMI 25-29.9) and 'obese'
(BMI > or = 30). Multivariable analyses using logistic regression were
conducted with this BMI-grouping as an independent variable to predict
social and economic disadvantage, controlling simultaneously for age,
educational attainment, region of residence, and limiting long-standing
illness. RESULTS: In women, overweight was associated with current
unemployment and obesity with long-term unemployment as well as absence of
close friends outside the family circle. Both overweight and obesity were
associated with low individual earnings. Obese women were also most likely
to have low household disposable and individual incomes; a similar pattern
was seen among thin women. A small subgroup of thin men were socially and
economically disadvantaged with all our indicators whereas excess body
weight was not problematic for men. CONCLUSIONS: Deviant body weight is
associated with social and economic disadvantage in a gender-specific and
partly curvilinear way. In particular, obese women face multiple social and
economic disadvantage.
ARTICLES
The association of body mass index with social and economic disadvantage in women and men
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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