Although the association between lower socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity in women in developed countries is well-documented, current evidence regarding the relationship between obesity in men and area-based SES (equivalised for advantage and disadvantage) is inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to examine obesity, lifestyle behaviours, physical activity in different domains and demographics in men using area-based SES.
Methods:
We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study of 1467 randomly selected white men (mean age 56 year (inter-quartile range (IQR) = 39–73 year)) recruited from the Barwon Statistical Division, South Western Victoria, Australia between 2001–06.
Results:
Age-adjusted BMI, waist circumference, % fat and lean mass and blood pressure were inversely associated with SES, with differences between low and upper SES (P for difference <0.05), independent of country of birth. Age-adjusted lifestyle behaviours associated with obesity and/or adverse health (especially cardiovascular disease), were also associated with lower SES.
Conclusions:
Subjects from lower SES had greater measures of obesity despite being more physically active at work, but were less likely to be physically active in the domains of sports and/or leisure. These findings suggest the possible influence of lifestyle behaviours and occupation upon obesity in men and should be investigated further.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BallK., CrawfordD.Socioeconomic status and weight change in adults: a review. Soc Sci Med, 2005; 60(9):1987–2010.
2.
SobalJ., StunkardA.J.Socioeconomic status and obesity: a review of the literature. Psychol Bull, 1989; 105(2):260–275.
3.
BallK., MishraG., CrawfordD.Which aspects of socioeconomic status are related to obesity among men and women?. Int J Obes, 2002; 26:559–565.
4.
BrennanS.L., HenryM.J., NicholsonG.C., KotowiczM.A., PascoJ.A.Socioeconomic status and risk factors for obesity and metabolic disorders in a population-based sample of adult females. Prev Med, 2009; 49:165–171.
5.
ZhangQ., WangY.Socioeconomic inequality of obesity in the United States: do gender, age, and ethnicity matter?. Soc Sci Med, 2004; 58:1171–1180.
6.
FlegalK., CarrollM.D., OgdenC.L., JohnsonC.I.Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults 1999–2000. JAMA, 2002; 288:1723–1727.
7.
DrewnowskiA., SpecterS.E.Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs. Am J Clinic Nutr, 2004; 79:6–16.
8.
PaeratakulS., LovejoyJ.C., RyanD.H., BrayG.A.The relation of gender, race and socioeconomic status to obesity and obesity comorbidities in a sample of U.S. adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord, 2002; 26:1205–1210.
9.
CrespoC.J., AinsworthB.E., KeteyianS.H., HeathG.W., SmitE.Prevalence of physical inactivity and its relation to social class in US adults: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 1999; 31:1821–1827.
10.
MilliganR., BurkeV., BeilinU., DunbarD.L.Influence of gender and socioeconomic status on dietary patterns and nutrient intakes in 18-year old Australians. Aust NZ J Public Health, 1998; 22:485–493.
11.
JefferyR.W., FrenchS.A., ForsterJ.L., SpryV.M.Socioeconomic status differences in health behaviours related to obesity: the Healthy Worker Project. Int J Obes, 1991; 15:689–696.
12.
MarmotM.G., BosmaH., HemingwayH., BrunnerE., StansfeldS.Contribution of job control and other risk factors to social variations in coronary heart disease incidence. Lancet, 1997; 350(9073):235–239.
13.
MulatuM.S., SchoolerC.Causal connections between socio-economic status and health: reciprocal effects and mediating mechanisms. J Health Soc Behav, 2002; 43:22–41.
14.
DjousseL.D.J., GaxianoJ.M.Relation between modifiable lifestyle factors and lifetime risk of heart failure. JAMA, 2009; 302(4):394–400.
15.
RobinsonJ.G., FoxK.M., GrandyS., BaysH., BazataD.D., GavinJ.R.III, et al.Attitudes about health and health-related behaviours in patients with cardiovascular disease or at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. Prev Cardiol, 2009; 12(3):136–143.
16.
DavisA., VinciL.M., OkwuosaT.M., ChaseA.R., HuangE.S.Cardiovascular health disparities: a systematic review of health care interventions. Med Care Res Rev, 2007; 64:29S–100S.
17.
CSDH. Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health Equity Through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Final report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2008.
18.
AusDiab. Risk factors for diabetes. Diabetes Australia, 2008.
19.
The Cancer Council of Victoria. Information for Users of the Dietary Questionnaire. Carlton: The Cancer Council of Victoria; 2005.
20.
NHMRC. Australian Alcohol Guidelines: Health Risks and Benefits. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; 2001.
21.
MakkaiT., McAllisterI.Patterns of Drug Use in Australia, 1985-1995. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services; 1998.
22.
BaeckeJ., BuremaJ., FrijtersJ.E.R.A short questionnaire for the measurement of habitual physical activity in epidemiological studies. Am J Clin Nutr, 1982; 36:936–942.
23.
VoorripsL.E., RavelliA.C.J., DongelmansP.C.A., DeurenbergP., Van StaverenW.A.A physical activity questionnaire for the elderly. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 1991; 23(8):974–979.
24.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, First Edition, 2006. Report No.: 1220.0. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2006.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. An introduction to socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA), 2006. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2006.
27.
HowardN.J., TaylorA.W., GillT.K., ChittleboroughC.R.Severe obesity: investigating the socio-demographics within the extremes of body mass index. Obesity Res Clinic Prac, 2008; 2(1):51–59.
28.
WilkinsonR.G., MarmotMG. editors. Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts. Copenhagen: World Health Organisation European Region. 1998.
29.
ChilcoatH.D.An overview of the emergence of disparities in smoking prevalence, cessation, and adverse consequences among women. Drug Alcohol Depend, 2009; 104(Supp 1):S17–S23.
30.
SchaapM., van AgtH., KunstA.Identification of socioeconomic groups at increased risk for smoking in European countries: looking beyond education level. Nicotine Tobacco Res, 2008; 10(2):359–369.
31.
PonniahS., BloomfieldA.Sociodemographic characteristics of New Zealand adult smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers: results from the 2006 Census. N Z Med J, 2008; 121(1284):34–42.
32.
JefferyR., FrenchS.A.Epidemic obesity in the United States: are fast foods and television viewing contributing?. Am J Pub Health, 1998; 88:277–280.
33.
WeyerC., SnitkerS., RisingR., BogardusC., RavussinE.Determinants of energy expenditure and fuel utilization in men: effects of body composition, age, sex, ethnicity and glucose tolerance in 916 subjects. Int J Obes, 1999; 23:715–722.
34.
RavussinE., BogardusC.Relationship between genetics, age, and physical fitness to daily energy expenditure and fuel utilization. Am J Clin Nutr, 1989; 49:968–975.
35.
ToubroS., SorensonT.I.A., RønnB., ChristensenN.J., AstrupA.Twenty-four hour energy expenditure: the role of body composition, thyroid status, sympathetic activity, and family membership. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1996; 81:2670–2674.
36.
RavussinE., LilliojaS., AndersonT.E., ChristinL., BogardusC.Determinants of 24-hour energy expenditure in men: methods and results using a respiratory chamber. J Clin Invest, 1986; 78:1568–1578.
