Abstract
The objective of the present study was to examine race and gender differences in obesity and disease overtime. This topic is under studies in racial/ethnic minority populations. Yet, gender differences in health within ethnic groups provide a more nuanced approach to health disparities. The analyses for this study were based on two waves of data (Wave1, 1986 and Wave 2, 1989) of the Americans’ Changing Lives Survey. The results revealed that a larger percentage of females are obese compared to males across all racial groups and females suffer a higher prevalence of disease compared to males which persists across time. The implications for cumulative disadvantage theory, feminist theory and the measurement of BMI and body fat are discussed.
Highlights
Several studies during the last few decades have illuminated the health risks of excess body weight (Kopelman, 2000; Ogden et al, 2006), but the prevalence of obesity in America has risen substantially during this time
The results indicate that a larger percentage of females are obese compared to males across all racial groups including whites, African Americans, American Indians and Hispanics
The largest percent difference of thirteen points was between African American males and females, followed by American Indians with a nine point gender difference
Summary
Several studies during the last few decades have illuminated the health risks of excess body weight (Kopelman, 2000; Ogden et al, 2006), but the prevalence of obesity in America has risen substantially during this time. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) that exceeds 30 (Schafer & Ferraro, 2007). Obesity is a major public health problem in the US, in racial/ethnic minority populations (Hedley et al, 2004; Ogden et al, 2006). The higher rate of obesity in minorities is often linked to the disproportionate representation of these groups in lower socioeconomic status (SES) categories (Gordon-Larsen, Dair, & Popkin, 2003; Patterson et al, 1997; Zhang & Wang, 2004).
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