Israeli Central Bureau Of Statistics Research Articles

A Retrospective Analysis of Breast Cancer Mortality among Jewish and Muslim Arab Women in Israel: The Role of Sociodemographic Factors.

Breast cancer mortality rates vary across ethnic groups in Israel, where protective factors such as high fertility and breastfeeding rates may be moderated by socioeconomic factors and mammography rates. We aim to investigate disparities in breast cancer mortality between Jewish and Muslim Arab women in Israel and examine how sociodemographic variables and number of children are associated with mortality. Our retrospective follow-up study uses data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics and multivariable Cox regression models, adjusting for age, number of children, country of origin, locality size, and socioeconomic status. Compared to Jewish women, Muslim Arab women exhibited lower breast cancer mortality rates. However, after adjusting for multiple sociodemographic variables, no significant differences persisted between Jewish and Muslim Arab women. Having more than three children was associated with lower mortality among Muslim Arab women but not among Jewish women. European/American origin, larger localities, and medium socioeconomic status were associated with higher mortality. Sociodemographic factors may therefore explain the disparities in breast cancer mortality between Jewish and Muslim Arab women in Israel. Targeted intervention programs that consider the unique characteristics and risk factors of different ethnic groups are needed to reduce disparities and improve outcomes.

Examining Crime-Specific and Crime-General Theories of Crime Causation at Place: The Case of Property and Violent Crime on Street Segments in Tel Aviv-Yafo

AbstractWe use data on street segments in Tel Aviv-Yafo to examine whether general or specific crime factors are key to understanding crime rates on street segments. We pose two questions. (1) What causal factors explain the property and violent crimes at the same locations? (2) What are the differences and similarities between the risk factors of the two crime types? Our study capitalizes on data drawn from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) to identify social and opportunity data at the street segment level. The dependent variable is the average counts of violent and property crimes in Tel Aviv-Yafo between 2010 and 2014. Zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression explains violent and property crime variations. While many of the significant factors that explain crime are similar between the two crime types, there are also distinct criminogenic factors predicting violent and property crime. Overall, our results support the position of common or general crime causes at places, but at the same time, they suggest the importance of understanding specific causes for specific crime types.

The development of the status of Druze women in the 21st century.

This article analyzes the social, personal, and religious reasons for the change in the status of Druze women in Israel. In the 1970s, the first wave of female Druze teachers began when a class intended only for women was opened. In the last 20 years, there has been a fundamental change in the status of women, followed by a change in the status of women in Israel in general. This change resulted in an increase in the percentage of female Druze students compared with male Druze students. According to data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2020, 68% of all Druze B. Undergraduatestudents and 64.8% of M.A students were Druze women. This increase has affected the various professions in which Druze women work. This article will also discuss the effect of the change in the status of Druze women on Druze society in general.

Drowning rates among children and adolescents (aged 7–17) in Israel during the years 2008–2018

ObjectiveDrowning is one of the leading causes of death among children and youth worldwide. This study aims to examine differences in the rates of drowning (fatal and non-fatal drowning) among children and youth in Israel stratified by age, sex, sector, place of drowning, and the drowning outcome. In addition, we compared the results of studies reported in other countries in specific age groups based on statistics of about 100,000 drowning cases.MethodA statistical analysis of 474 drownings between 2008 and 2018 was conducted. All cases refer to youngsters aged 7–17 in the State of Israel. Statistical analysis was performed on data obtained from the Beterem – Safe Kids Israel organization and from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Disparities between groups within the examined population were analyzed based on gender, sector (Jewish versus non-Jewish), and drowning site.ResultsOf the 474 drownings that occurred during 2008–2018, 38.4% ended in death. 79% of the cases occurred in pools. The Arab minority sector (21.1% of the general population) accounted for 25.1% of all drownings, males accounted for 70.5% of the drowning cases, and the age group with the most drownings (48.5%) was that of 15–17 years. The Jewish population was involved in more than 75% of drownings in places designated for bathing and in more than 83% of all disaster scenarios, whereas the Arab minority was involved in more than 61% of drownings in places not designated for bathing.ConclusionsThe results are comparable to those of other studies worldwide. Boys drown twice as much as girls, mainly in the age group of 15–17. This may be explained by overconfidence in boys and a tendency to overestimate their actual swimming abilities. Most drownings occur in pools. Drowning among the Jewish population occurs mainly in designated bathing sites.Practical applicationsThe findings can and, in fact, must be used to inform and educate the younger generation as to the potential dangers involving bathing in designated bathing sites.

Assessing distributional effects of carbon pricing in Israel

The government of Israel has announced its plan to introduce a national carbon price of ILS 130 (∼USD 40) per ton of CO2 in 2023. In this study, we analyse the subsequent distributional impacts on Israeli households. We build on the recent Household Budget Survey from 2018 compiled by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics and merge this data with sector-specific embedded carbon intensities derived from multi-regional input-output data. We find that without further measures a carbon price would have regressive effects on Israeli households. Using statistical analyses we show that rural households, Arab households or households that own (and use) a car would face additional costs above average. Redistributing revenues from carbon pricing could help to address socially unbalanced and unintended outcomes. We model various redistribution schemes after iterating with Israeli stakeholders. Compensating households with lump sum transfers or (partially) subsidizing electricity consumption could lead to progressive outcomes, while proposed policies to lower existing transport fuel taxes would exacerbate regressive distributional effects.

Place of Death for Israeli Cancer Patients Over a 20-Year Period: Reducing Hospital Deaths, but Barriers Remain.

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. While the main focus of palliative care (PC) is quality of life, the elements that comprise the quality of death are often overlooked. Dying at home, with home-hospice-care (HHC) support, rather than in-hospital, may increase patient satisfaction and decrease the use of invasive measures. We examined clinical and demographic characteristics associated with out-of-hospital death among patients with cancer, which serves as a proxy measure for HHC deaths. Using death certification data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, we analyzed 209,158 cancer deaths between 1998 and 2018 in Israel including demographic information, cause of death, and place of death (POD). A multiple logistic regression model was constructed to identify factors associated with out-of-hospital cancer deaths. Between 1998 and 2018, 69.1% of cancer deaths occurred in-hospital, and 30.8% out-of-hospital. Out-of-hospital deaths increased by 1% annually during the study period. Older patients and those dying of solid malignancies were more likely to die out-of-hospital (OR = 2.65, OR = 1.93, respectively). Likelihood of dying out-of-hospital varied with area of residency; patients living in the Southern district were more likely than those in the Jerusalem district to die out-of-hospital (OR = 2.37). The proportion of cancer deaths occurring out-of-hospital increased during the study period. We identified clinical and demographic factors associated with POD. Differences between geographical areas probably stem from disparity in the distribution of PC services and highlight the need for increasing access to primary EOL care. However, differences in age and tumor type probably reflect cultural changes and suggest focusing on educating patients, families, and physicians on the benefits of PC.

Residence in Peripheral Regions and Low Socioeconomic Status Are Associated With Worse Outcomes of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Nationwide Study From the epi-IIRN.

Timely access to quality medical care impacts patient outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In a nationwide study from the epidemiology group of the Israeli IBD research nucleus we aimed to assess the impact of residence and socioeconomic status (SES) on disease outcomes. We utilized data from the 4 health maintenance organizations in Israel, representing 98% of the population. Regions were defined as central, northern and southern; SES was graded from lowest to highest (from 1 to 4) as per Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. The primary outcome was steroid dependency, with secondary outcomes of surgeries and biologic therapy use. A total of 28 216 IBD patients were included: 15 818 (56%) Crohn's disease (CD) and 12 398 (44%) ulcerative colitis; 74%, 12% and 14% resided in central, southern, and northern Israel, respectively (SES 1: 21%, SES 4: 12%). Lower SES was associated with steroid dependency (20% in SES 1 vs 12% in SES 4 in CD; P < .001; and 18% vs 12% in ulcerative colitis; P < .001), and higher surgery rates (12% vs 7%; P < .001, and 1.4% vs 0.7%; P = .115, respectively). There were higher steroid dependency and CD surgery rates in peripheral vs central regions. In multivariable models, both SES and peripheral region were independently associated with poorer outcomes. We found that lower SES and peripheral residence were associated with deleterious outcomes in IBD. This should be considered by policymakers and should encourage strategies for improving outcomes in populations at risk.

Transdiagnostic considerations of mental health for the post-COVID era: Lessons from the first surge of the pandemic.

The Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-related psychiatric burden partly results from prolonged social stress world-wide. Studies have examined the psychiatric impact of COVID-19 on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM 5) and International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) categories, implicating multiple diagnoses, complicating clinical management. To verify whether COVID-19-related psychopathology spans multiple DSM-5 and ICD-11 diagnoses, but not in a random pattern. Consequently, empirical analysis of the multiple associated symptoms will better describe COVID-19-related psychopathology. We conducted a bi-national study during the first surge of the pandemic: an Italian sample (n = 21217, studied March-April 2020); and three representative longitudinal samples from Israel (n = 1276, 1189, and 1432 respectively, studied May-July 2020). Data in Italy were collected by a national internet-based survey with an initially approached sample of about one million persons and in Israel by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics using probability-based national representative sampling. Data analysis focused on the frequency and patterns of reported multiple mental health symptoms. Combinations with all symptoms were more prevalent than combinations with fewer symptoms, with no majorities-minorities differences in both countries, demonstrating the generalizability of the transdiagnostic pattern of mental health issues in both nations. A history of previous mental disorder (Italian study) and an increase in symptom prevalence over time (Israel study) were associated with an increased number of symptoms. Conclusions: Based on finding correlated symptom diversity spanning conventional diagnostic categories, we suggest that the pattern of mental health issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is transdiagnostic. The findings have implications for improving prevention and treatment of COVID-19 related psychopathology and for post-pandemic times in conditions resulting from multiplicity of stressors with mixed symptomatology in the clinical picture.

Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality Rates in Israel among Urban and Rural Women

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death. There are a number of risk factors for breast cancer mortality including parity, age, ethnicity, genetic history, and place of residence. This study examined the disparities in breast cancer-related mortality rates among women from urban areas compared to rural areas in Israel. This was a retrospective, follow-up study on mortality from breast cancer among 894,608 Israeli women born between the years of 1940 and 1960. Data was collected from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, the Population Authority, the Education Ministry, and the Health Ministry. Over 80% of women lived in urban areas. A higher incidence of mortality from breast cancer in Israel was found among urban women compared to rural women (1047.8/100,000 compared to 837/100,000, respectively). Even after adjusting for sociodemographic variables, higher mortality rates were found among women from urban areas in Israel compared to women from rural areas in Israel. It is believed that environmental factors can partially explain the geographic variation of breast cancer incidence, and that breast cancer incidence is likely a complex interaction between genetic, environmental, and health factors.

Patterns of health lifestyle behaviours: findings from a representative sample of Israel

BackgroundResearchers are increasingly acknowledging the importance of understanding patterns of engagement in multiple, as opposed to isolated, health behaviours. Accordingly, several studies, targeting various geographical regions, have begun to identify and characterize unique classes of individuals in terms of their engagement in health behaviours, towards gaining insights that might guide tailored health interventions. Our study extends this stream of research to the Israeli context, as well as examines whether certain sociodemographic characteristics tend to be associated with affiliation to a specific group of individuals, i.e., class membership.MethodsTwo large representative samples were obtained from the 2010 and 2017 National Social Surveys of the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify different classes, based on levels of engagement in five health behaviours: fruit-and-vegetable consumption, physical activity, smoking avoidance, sleep, and influenza vaccination. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to test the associations between sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, religion, education level) and class membership.ResultsWe identified three distinct classes (denoted “healthy”, “unhealthy”, and “mixed”). Overall, the “healthy” class was characterized by healthy levels of fruit-and-vegetable consumption and physical activity, a low rate of currently-smoking individuals, and a high proportion of influenza vaccination. The “mixed” class was characterized by healthy levels of fruit-and-vegetable consumption and sleep duration, moderate levels of physical exercise, a high proportion of currently light smokers, and a low rate of vaccination. The “unhealthy” class was marked by relatively low levels of engagement in health behaviours. Generally, older, Jewish, and more-educated individuals were more likely to belong to the “healthy” class, while young, non-Jewish, and less-educated individuals were more likely to belong to the “unhealthy” class. We further identified differences between the 2010 and 2017 samples (e.g., differences in men’s likelihood of being in the “unhealthy” class), suggesting that some behavioural patterns might have changed over time.ConclusionThis research identified three classes of engagement in health behaviours across two large and representative samples. Moreover, the classes were associated with unique sociodemographic characteristics. Consequently, our findings can highlight health-behavioural patterns relevant to different sub-populations that should be considered in public health interventions.

Secondary school mathematics and entrance into the STEM professions: a longitudinal study

BackgroundSTEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are in high demand for qualified personnel worldwide, yet drop-out rates of a career path in STEM occur at various points in lifespan. Based on a big-data analysis of 534,590 records retrieved from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics for several points in time over one and a half decades, the study aims to examine the various pathways of which secondary school students take toward STEM-related careers, and to characterize each pathway based on various demographic and educational factors.ResultsThe study presents a three-tier tree, which highlights eight pathways leading to STEM or non-STEM bachelor's degrees. An important finding is the recognition of a non-linear pathway, demonstrating the biggest ‘leak’ from STEM in secondary school to non-STEM in higher education. Further, findings indicate that choosing advanced mathematics, majoring in physics and computer science in secondary school, and excelling in mathematics or science major at secondary school, have a lasting effect on STEM persistence in higher education. Additionally, males and non-minorities populations have the highest likelihood of choosing STEM for future studies.ConclusionsThe study contributes theoretically to broadening the conceptualization of various pathways toward pursuing a STEM career across important choice stages in people’s lifespan. Moreover, the study provides insight into the long-term effect of education choices made in secondary school, as well as demographic and educational factors, on future choice for study.

Do Ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jews Suffer more than Secular Israeli Jews from Obesity? Gender, Cohort Effect and the Yule-Simpson Paradox.

The Yule-Simpson paradox indicates contradicting statistical outcomes for the pooled sample and for each stratified group separately. The objective of the current study is to demonstrate this paradox. The sample is based on a 2015-2016 longitudinal survey carried out by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics. The sample includes 1194 individuals, where the responses of 1140 individuals were assessed twice (in 2015 and 2016) and the responses of 54 individuals were recorded only once. This gives a total sample of 2334 observations × years. The sample includes 609 females and 585 males. We use the limited dependent binary probit regression model. The dependent variable is a dummy variable that equals 1 if the individual is obese (BMI ≥ 30, where BMI = WEIGHT ÷ (HEIGHT2), WEIGHT is measured in kilograms and HEIGHT is measured in meters) and zero otherwise. The independent variables are the denomination (secular vs. ultra-Orthodox) and age in years. Findings suggest that on the one hand, for the pooled sample of 21-50-year-old females and males, results clearly support the conclusion that compared with secular Israeli Jews, projected probability of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) among ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jews is higher (p = 0.0128). On the other hand, when stratified by gender, one cannot reject the opposite conclusion, according to which projected probability of obesity is equal for all cohorts among ultra-Orthodox and secular Israeli Jews. Research findings thus stress the importance of cautious and rigorous statistical analysis and robustness tests prior to statistical inference.

Ethnoracial classification and the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics: constructing Palestinian criminality in Israel (1990–2019)

ABSTRACT Research on the census and ethnoracial classification shows that the categories collected by census agencies are political choices that not only reflect demographic reality but also, to some extent, construct it. In this article, using the case of the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, I focus on one type of official statistics, criminal justice statistics, and theorize how their changing presentation of ethnoracial categories can have a stigmatizing effect. Based on analyzing 30 years of the annual Statistical of Israel, I show that the criminal justice statistics section of this publication made several changes to the categories they presented including removing breakdowns by continent of origin/birth for Jews. Building on research on the history of crime statistics in the United States, I show how removing the continent of origin/birth for Jews had the effect of creating a binary comparison between Jews and Arabs, thus stigmatizing the latter group.

The impact of ethnicity on chronic hepatitis B infection course and outcome: big data analysis from Israel

ABSTRACT Objectives: The effect of ethnicity on chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection’s course and outcome has attracted little research. We aimed to compare different aspects of ethnic disparities in CHB patients, including prevalence, phenotypes, management, and outcome between two major ethnic groups in Israel. Design: We conducted a large retrospective cohort study utilizing the Leumit-Health-Service database. Electronic reports of almost 700,000 members from different ethnicities and districts throughout Israel from 2000 to 2019 were reviewed. Patients’ ethnicity was categorized based on the classification of the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics into two main groups, Arabs and Jews. CHB diagnosis was based on ICD-9-CM codes and supportive serology results. Prevalence, clinical backgrounds, disease course, and patients’ outcomes were compared between both groups. Results: The prevalence of CHB in the Arab minority group was almost twice and a half-higher when compared to their Jewish counterparts (4.3% vs. 1.8%), but they had a lower rate of referral for HBsAg testing (7% vs. 7.9%). The Arab CHB patients were significantly younger at the time of diagnosis (37.6± 13.5 vs. 45.3± 15; P < 0.001). Male predominance was noted in both groups. The Arab patients had a higher rate of active hepatitis (HBeAg-positive and/or negative hepatitis) phase (36.4% vs. 29.8%; P = 0.01), as well as a significantly higher rate of HBeAg seroconversion (45.2% vs. 35.4%; P = 0.033). Nucleos/tide analogue treatment figures were similar, with most patients in both groups receiving a high barrier to resistance treatment. Patients’ outcome was similar in both groups as the rate of hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, and advanced fibrosis (after stratification analysis) were comparable between both groups. Conclusion: Marked by a prominently higher prevalence of HBV infection, patients in the Arab ethnic group had a lower rate of referral for HBsAg testing but received comparable management and had a similar outcome compared to their Jewish counterparts.

Who wants to work and why? workplace practices, job satisfaction and the will to work

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;Beyond the obvious positive effect on employees, job satisfaction is also critical for organizations. Job satisfaction affects workers' turnover intents, while also predicting employees' commitment to their workplace and their performances. Thus, not surprisingly, most organizations strive for employee satisfaction. The goal of the study is to examine which job characteristics and workplace practices affect the job satisfaction of employees, and particularly that of older ones (55+), and, in turn, enhance their will to work and may encourage them to work longer. Our analysis of the Social Survey for 2016 from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics focused on job conditions and revealed that income satisfaction, additional benefits, a sense of belonging and work-life balance enhance job satisfaction and the desire to work longer, particularly among older workers. Among younger workers, a higher significance was found for professional training and skills. Implications for organizations and policymakers are discussed.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

Resource Threat versus Resource Loss and Emotional Well-Being of Ethnic Minorities during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This paper used Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory as a theoretical framework to investigate which kinds of resource loss predicted the emotional well-being (EWB) of ethnic minorities and majority populations during a period of crisis. Data were collected from a national representative survey conducted by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample included 1157 respondents, including 174 Israeli Palestinian citizens (ethnic minority) and 983 Israeli Jews (majority population). Measures of EWB, actual losses and threats of losses of economic, social, and health resources were examined. The results showed that the losses of economic, social, and health resources reduced the EWB of individuals. Negative effects of the actual losses of resources on EWB were greater than those of the perceived threats of loss. The largest effect was for economic resources. There were differences in effects between the ethnic minorities and the majority populations. The study revealed that for the ethnic minorities, who are less powerful and more disadvantaged than ethnic majorities, the depletion of already deficient resources during time of crisis is more important for predicting their EWB than for the majority populations.

Academic Research, Higher Education, and Peripheral Development: The Case of Israel

The aims of this study are to identify possible socioeconomic impacts of MIGAL (Galilee Research Institute) and TH (Tel Hai Academic College) on the peripheral northeast’s development. We discuss the effects of academic research and institutions of higher education on mitigating differences between the center and the periphery of the country. MIGAL is a regional R&amp;D center in the northeast peripheral region of Israel. An internationally recognized applied research institute, MIGAL specializes in biotechnology, computational sciences, plant sciences, precision agriculture, and environmental sciences, as well as food, nutrition, and health. Most of MIGAL’s researchers serve as the core faculty at TH. Despite the country’s small surface area, socioeconomic inequality in Israel is high by OECD standards, with wage differences between rich and poor regions reaching up to 400%. In this article, a new type of dataset for the study of the socioeconomic impact of academic research and higher education on peripheral development is proposed—the regional socioeconomic indices (SEIs). Data for MIGAL, TH, and the northeastern peripheral region were collected from the yearly reports of the two institutions and the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. MIGAL was found to serve as a link between research, academic teaching, and socioeconomic development in the northeast periphery. Several variables related to this link and describing MIGAL–TH and northeastern periphery development were analyzed over time: MIGAL’s budget, total number of employees and number of employees with PhDs; number of TH graduate students; and the socioeconomic index (SEI) of the northeastern periphery and its position on the Israeli list of regional SEIs. The signs and significance levels of most of the trends indicate a potential socioeconomic impact of academic research and higher education on peripheral development in the northeast of the country. Research budgets and the creation of jobs for academics living in the region are just a few examples of this impact. The results of the study are useful for academics and policymakers in improvement of the contribution of academic research and higher education to the country’s economic and innovation development.

Decision-Making in Defined Contribution Pension Plans: The Case of Israel

Research suggests that the DC saving method, which is a self-guided saving method, is a contributor to exacerbation in retirees' poverty and income inequality. Economists lobby governments to provide the public with information regarding pension savings to improve the situation, and many studies conclude that employees can improve their decisions substantially by receiving pension advice. This study analyzes Israeli data of four field studies among over 1,500 subjects and the Israeli social survey data of the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS). The findings of the study indicate that providing employees with information regarding pension savings does not encourage them to more pro-actively manage their pension savings nor receive advice from a professional counselor. Surprisingly, the findings suggest that employees are more willing to receive pension savings advice from a counselor on behalf of the state than from a counselor who is not necessarily on behalf of the state.

Nutrition, age, medical literacy and gender: The impact of ethnic origin (Arabs vs. Jewish Israelis) on obesity

Summary Background Overweight and obesity are serious risk factors associated with major health problems such as, mortality as a result of ischemic heart diseases, cerebro vascular attacks (CVA) and diabetes. Previous cross-sectional research reveals the “Mediterranean diet” paradox among native Arab Israelis: despite the fact that this diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, high fiber and low fat diet originated in the Mediterranean basin, Israeli Arabs exhibit a high prevalence of obesity and concurrent elevated mortality rates. Yet, referring to the few obesity studies conducted among Arab-Israeli populations, none used a panel data-set. The Israeli longtitudinal survey was primarily conducted by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) at the national level beginning in 2012. This was part of the new statistical requirements from the Organization of Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD), which Israel joined as member in 2010. Objective To fill this lacuna, namely, lack of any previous longitudinal study in Israel at the national level. The panel structure of our study, covering 2012–2016, permits the BMI between-group comparison (as an overweight and obesity measure) of native Jewish and Arab Israelis females and males (the two main ethnic groups in Israel), while controlling the age variable within the same group. We track the same individuals over time and observe the variations of their BMI. Sample The sample employed in this study is representative of the Israeli population. The information was collected by personal interviews. The sample contains 24,685 observations × years of native Israelis, and is divided to 16,538 native Jewish Hebrew speakers × years (67% of the sample); and 8147 native non-Jewish Arabic speakers × years (33% of the sample). Results: Between-group comparison when age is controlled, compared to native Jewish Israeli women, native Jewish Israeli men and Arab Israeli women cross the overweight benchmark (i.e., BMI≥25 – according to the World Health Organization classification) 20 years earlier. Results: Within-group comparison while during this five-year period, native Arab Israeli women gain weight at an increasing pace, there is a decrease in the weight gain among native Jewish Israeli women, and starting from 2014 – there is an actual weight loss. Interestingly, during the sample period, both native Arab Israelis and Jewish Israeli men gained weight at an increasing pace. Conclusions These outcomes may demonstrate the higher medical literacy of native Jewish Israeli women (i.e., better awareness to high fiber diets and physical activity), and may stress the need to increase this public awareness, particularly among native Jewish Israeli men and both Arab Israeli men and women.

What Is the Optimal Family Size for a Minimal Likelihood of Obesity?

The objective of this study is to predict the optimal number of children in an effort to minimize the projected probability of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) among adult household members. Given that obesity is a prominent risk factor for an extensive series of health problems and higher mortality rates, this research might prove to be important for policymaking and provision of personally and culturally adjusted medicine. This research is based on a panel dataset of up to four measured points in time (2012, 2013, 2014–2015, and 2016), carried out by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS). The proposed empirical model controls the age variable as well as individual-effect generic heterogeneity, gender, immigration status, and religiosity level. Stratification by the latter variable (Orthodox, religious, traditional, secular) indicates that, while for the Orthodox and religious groups, projected likelihood of obesity rises with the number of children, for the secular and traditional groups, projected likelihood of obesity remains stable or drops with the number of children.