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Bigger bodies: Long-term trends and disparities in obesity and body-mass index among U.S. adults, 1960–2008

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  • Ljungvall, Åsa
  • Zimmerman, Frederick J.

Abstract

Increasing obesity rates and corresponding public health problems are well-known, and disparities across socioeconomic groups are frequently reported. However, the literature is less clear on whether the increasing trends are specific to certain socioeconomic groups and whether disparities in obesity are increasing or decreasing over time. This knowledge sheds light on the understanding of the driving forces to the ongoing worldwide increases in obesity and body-mass index and gives guidance to plausible interventions aiming at reverting weights back to healthy levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Ljungvall, Åsa & Zimmerman, Frederick J., 2012. "Bigger bodies: Long-term trends and disparities in obesity and body-mass index among U.S. adults, 1960–2008," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 109-119.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:75:y:2012:i:1:p:109-119
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.03.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Komlos, John & Brabec, Marek, 2011. "The trend of BMI values of US adults by deciles, birth cohorts 1882-1986 stratified by gender and ethnicity," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 9(3), pages 234-250, July.
    6. John Komlos & Marek Brabec, 2010. "The Trend of Mean BMI Values of US Adults, Birth Cohorts 1882-1986 Indicates that the Obesity Epidemic Began Earlier than Hitherto Thought," NBER Working Papers 15862, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alexandre Lebel & Yan Kestens & Christelle Clary & Sherri Bisset & S V Subramanian, 2014. "Geographic Variability in the Association between Socioeconomic Status and BMI in the USA and Canada," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-11, June.
    2. Zimmerman, Frederick J., 2013. "Habit, custom, and power: A multi-level theory of population health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 47-56.
    3. Glei, Dana A. & Weinstein, Maxine, 2023. "Economic distress, obesity, and the rise in pain," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    4. Ljungvall, Åsa, 2013. "The Freer the Fatter? A Panel Study of the Relationship between Body-Mass Index and Economic Freedom," Working Papers 2013:23, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    5. Rudkin, Simon, 2015. "Deconstructing Supermarket Interventions as a Mechanism for Improving Diet: Lessons from the Seacroft Intervention Study," MPRA Paper 64994, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Helen Cheng & Adrian Furnham, 2013. "Personality Traits, Education, Physical Exercise, and Childhood Neurological Function as Independent Predictors of Adult Obesity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-1, November.

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