Socioeconomic status, obesity and lifestyle in men: The Geelong Osteoporosis Study

Received 24 August 2009; received in revised form 20 October 2009; accepted 23 October 2009.

Abstract

Background

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.

Keywords: Body composition, Socio economic disadvantage, Obesity, Lifestyle, Men

a Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia

b The University of Melbourne, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, University of Melbourne, PO Box 281, Geelong 3220, Australia

c Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong 3220, Australia

d Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong 3220, Australia

e Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong 3220, Australia

Corresponding author Tel.: +61 3 52267393; fax: +61 3 52465165.

PII: S1875-6867(09)00367-4

doi:10.1016/j.jomh.2009.10.004

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