|
|
 |
 Printer-friendly
format
Download PDF version 
Email this page
Americans at Unequal Risk for Obesity
CREATAS
|
The well-publicized rising incidence of obesity in America
is occurring among all population groups. Not everyone, however,
is equally at risk of becoming overweight or obese, or at risk
for
the same reasons. Researchers at ERS have found that individuals
who have not gone to college, women with lower incomes, single
mothers,
and men in rural areas are significantly more likely to be overweight
or obese.
Variation in body weight is partially determined by
our genes, but is also related to what we eat and how active we
are. Individuals
who exercise more frequently, watch less television, drink fewer
sugary beverages, and eat a healthful diet are more likely to
have a healthy body weight. Differences in attitudes about diet
and
health
also correlate with weight differences. Compared with healthy-weight
women, overweight and obese women are less likely to believe
they have control over their weight. And overweight and obese men
are
less likely to assess their weight status accurately than healthy-weight
men: nearly 60 percent of overweight and obese men consider themselves
to be a healthy weight.
ERS researchers found that several socioeconomic factors,
such as the level of education, marital status, and the presence
of children in the household, correlate with the food choices,
activity
levels, and health-related attitudes that affect body weight. For
example, people with a college education eat a more healthful diet,
watch less TV, drink fewer soft drinks, and skip breakfast less
often. Women with a college education have a greater feeling of
control over their own weight and exercise more frequently. Married
parents have a more healthful diet, skip breakfast less often,
and
drink fewer sugary beverages than single parents. Women who are
married with children watch less television than women without
children
or single mothers. And, men with no children exercise more frequently
than men with children.
Insights from this study can suggest ways to tailor
health education for specific individuals to promote changes in
certain behaviors
and attitudes. For example, encouraging busy single parents to
incorporate
frequent, but not necessarily lengthy, sessions of physical activity
into their daily routine may be more effective than prescribing
30 minutes of continuous activity each day. Other groups of Americans
could benefit from more tailored nutrition and exercise messages
as well.
|
