Gender‐specific associations of socioeconomic factors and obesity among urban adults in Turkey

Abstract

This study examined the associations between socioeconomic factors and obesity in a nationally representative sample of adults (≥19) in 13 urban centers in Turkey. Data were collected through face‐to‐face household interviews; anthropometric measurements were conducted by study assistants. The analytical sample included 4,813 adults with measured weight, height, and weight circumference (WC) values. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the determinants of obesity (BMI≥30.0) and high WC (≥102 cm for men, ≥88cm for women).The average age in the sample was 41.7yr, 61.5% were females, and 58.3% reported eighth grade or less education. Obesity and high WC were more common among women than men (34.3 vs 14.9% and 51.0 vs 15.8%, respectively, p<0.001). After adjusting for age, migration, home ownership and health insurance status, obesity was linked to being married, having a car and less than college education among women; education, migration, and being married were also positively related to having a high WC. Among men, not having health insurance was linked to less likelihood of obesity and high WC (p<0.05).Relatively high rates of overall and central obesity among adults in urban Turkey seem to have gender‐specific associations with individual and household level socioeconomic characteristics.