Weight of nations: a socioeconomic analysis of women in low- to middle-income countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The increasing trend in body mass index (BMI) and overweight in rapidly developing economies is well recognized.

Objective

We assessed the association between socioeconomic status and BMI and overweight in low- to middle-income countries.

Design

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative samples of 538,140 women aged 15-49 y drawn from 54 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1994 and 2008. BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height squared in meters, was specified as the outcome, and a BMI (in kg/m(2)) of ≥25 was additionally specified to model the likelihood of being overweight. Household wealth and education were included as markers of individual socioeconomic status, and per capita Gross Domestic Produc

SUBMITTER: Subramanian SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3021433 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature