Abstract
BackgroundObesity is a serious public health problem in China. The relationship between obesity and socio-economic status (SES) is changing and affected by uncertainty, particularly, in developing countries. The sex-related differences in body mass index (BMI) trajectories are controversial and require substantial empirical data for updating and enriching.MethodsThis study examined the relationship between SES and BMI in Chinese adults from a dynamic perspective using longitudinal data (1991–2011) from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Then, sex-related differences were determined. A hierarchical linear model was used.ResultsSES positively affected the male BMI changes, with faster BMI growth rates in the high-SES males over the past 20 years. By contrast, female BMI was only affected by BMI baseline and residential area. Specifically, greater BMI baseline led to greater BMI growth rate and earlier BMI decline. In the past 20 years, the BMI growth rate has been greater in the urban females than in the rural females.ConclusionsThe relationship between SES and obesity is complex in China, and a substantial sex-related difference exists. We argue that this large sex-related difference is due to the rapid economic and social changes that have affected national health and increased the gender inequality and social role restrictions in females. We provide insights for further research and policy recommendations.
Highlights
Obesity is a serious public health problem in China
The time-varying changes in body mass index (BMI) caused by unobserved individual characteristics may be understood as the random variances of the individual
hierarchical linear models (HLM) results The study results described above are based on the analysis of differences and changes in people’s BMI with specific socio-economic status (SES) characteristics
Summary
Obesity is a serious public health problem in China. The relationship between obesity and socio-economic status (SES) is changing and affected by uncertainty, in developing countries. Given people’s diet changes and reduced physical activities, obesity is no longer a sole problem of developed countries and of developing countries, including China [1, 2]. According to a study’s estimate, China had approximately 89.6 million obese people (43.2 million males, 46.4 million females) in 2014 [3]. The obesity and overweight epidemic is affected by both environmental and personal factors. On one Serious obesity and overweight problems negatively affect a person’s health. Overweight or obese people manifest deteriorating physical indicators and suffer from various high-risk diseases [8]. Overweight or obese people are more prone to develop prehypertension and
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