Obesity and socioeconomic status in developing countries: a systematic review

Abstract

SummaryWe undertook a systematic review of studies assessing the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and measured obesity in low- and middle-income countries (defined by the World Bank as countries with per capita income up to US$12,275) among children, men and women. The evidence on the subject has grown significantly since an earlier influential review was published in 2004. We find that in low-income countries or in countries with low human development index (HDI), the association between SES and obesity appears to be positive for both men and women: the more affluent and/or those with higher educational attainment tend to be more likely to be obese. However, in middle-income countries or in countries with medium HDI, the association becomes largely mixed for men and mainly negative for women. This particular shift appears to occur at an even lower level of per capita income than suggested by an influential earlier review. By contrast, obesity in children appears to be predominantly a problem of the rich in low- and middle-income countries.

Local reference dose evaluation in conventional radiography examinations in Iran

“…This factor is a function of weight and height and patients with larger mass require higher technical parameters (kVp and mAs). Average BMI is higher in Sistan‐Baluchestan than analogous values in Iran and European countries; (28) larger BMI values could lead to higher radiation dose and DRLs 29 , 30 …”

Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of metabolic syndrome in school-aged children and their parents in nine Mesoamerican countries

“…Nevertheless, it is also possible that the mechanisms to cope with a household-level exposure differ between mothers and fathers. Previous studies have found that the burden of chronic disease shifts from the better-off towards groups of lower SES as countries undergo economic development (28)(29)(30) . This 'epidemiological transition' tends to occur first among women than among men (28,30) .…”

“…Previous studies have found that the burden of chronic disease shifts from the better-off towards groups of lower SES as countries undergo economic development (28)(29)(30) . This 'epidemiological transition' tends to occur first among women than among men (28,30) . Because the burden of the metabolic syndrome is currently greatest among the least educated women whereas in men it is still highest for those of food-secure households, our data indicate that the Mesoamerican region is at a relatively early stage of the transition.…”

Education Modifies the Association of Wealth with Obesity in Women in Middle-Income but not Low-Income Countries: an Interaction Study using Seven National Datasets, 2005–10.

“…Accessed 2013 Jan 1) are a key source of data for studies on obesity [4,5,6,7,8,17,18,19]. They are a worldwide project funded by the United States Agency for International Development aiming to provide data on demographics and health outcomes, mainly for women and young children.…”

“…It is arguably the most complex to address and presents a potentially intractable epidemic in itself [2]. Crosscountry comparisons have played a central role in understanding the association between socio-economic status (SES) and obesity in relation to country levels of economic development [3,4,5,6]. Most of this research suggests that obesity is a problem of the elites in poorer countries, with a process of gradual reversal occurring as countries develop, and it becomes a problem of the poor in advanced economies.…”