TY - JOUR
T1 - BMI may overestimate the prevalence of obesity among women of lower socioeconomic status
AU - Kaluski, Dorit Nitzan
AU - Keinan-Boker, Lital
AU - Stern, Felicia
AU - Green, Manfred S.
AU - Leventhal, Alex
AU - Goldsmith, Rebecca
AU - Chinich, Ayelet
AU - Berry, Elliot M.
PY - 2007/7
Y1 - 2007/7
N2 - Objective: Our objective was to examine gender differences in height and weight associated with socioeconomic status (SES) and the consequent effect on body mass index in a multiethnic society. Research Methods and Procedures: A cross-sectional study, the First Israeli National Health and Nutrition Survey, was performed on a representative population sample of 3246 adults 25 to 64 years of age, between the years 1999 to 2001. Height and weight were measured, and BMI and other weight-height indices were calculated. SES was assessed by income and education. Results: Age-adjusted height was significantly lower at lower levels of SES among both women and men (p < 0.001). As opposed to men, women of lower SES were heavier than those of higher SES, and the mean age-adjusted weight was 4.6 kg higher among those of lower SES (p < 0.001). Thus, using the standard index of BMI, the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher among shorter women. Discussion: In this group of Israeli adults, the unfavorable effect of low SES on BMI was evident among women, partly due to their decreased height combined with increased weight common in this socioeconomic sector. Since BMI is only partly independent of height, it may overestimate the prevalence of obesity among women of lower SES. Alternative measures for classifying obesity in the lower SES groups that put less emphasis on height may be considered and studied.
AB - Objective: Our objective was to examine gender differences in height and weight associated with socioeconomic status (SES) and the consequent effect on body mass index in a multiethnic society. Research Methods and Procedures: A cross-sectional study, the First Israeli National Health and Nutrition Survey, was performed on a representative population sample of 3246 adults 25 to 64 years of age, between the years 1999 to 2001. Height and weight were measured, and BMI and other weight-height indices were calculated. SES was assessed by income and education. Results: Age-adjusted height was significantly lower at lower levels of SES among both women and men (p < 0.001). As opposed to men, women of lower SES were heavier than those of higher SES, and the mean age-adjusted weight was 4.6 kg higher among those of lower SES (p < 0.001). Thus, using the standard index of BMI, the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher among shorter women. Discussion: In this group of Israeli adults, the unfavorable effect of low SES on BMI was evident among women, partly due to their decreased height combined with increased weight common in this socioeconomic sector. Since BMI is only partly independent of height, it may overestimate the prevalence of obesity among women of lower SES. Alternative measures for classifying obesity in the lower SES groups that put less emphasis on height may be considered and studied.
KW - BMI
KW - Education
KW - Height
KW - Income
KW - Weight
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34547928884&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/oby.2007.215
DO - 10.1038/oby.2007.215
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C2 - 17636100
AN - SCOPUS:34547928884
SN - 1930-7381
VL - 15
SP - 1808
EP - 1815
JO - Obesity
JF - Obesity
IS - 7
ER -
