The Relationship of Social Economic Status and Obesity Among Adolescents

Abstract

This paper discusses the impact on adolescent obesity from the perspectives of subjective social economic status (SSES) and objective social economic status (OSES). It is found that both types of social economic statuses were negatively associated with obesity, which is mean that higher social economic status (SES) is a protective factor of obesity. By reviewing previous relevant literature, this paper further found that: (1) External environment (e.g., community) and personal SES can interacted predict the obesity; (2) Childhood social economic status may lead to obesity by affecting cognitive function; (3) Life history theory and energy balance theory can explain the association between subjective social economic status and obesity. There is a certain difference between SSES and OSES, and it is recommended both of them need to be used at the same time in one research. Further research is needed on the underlying mechanisms of social economic status and obesity, as well as longitudinal research and intervention experiments. This paper provides methods and reference for researchers to understand the association between obesity and two types of social economic status among adolescents.