Health Commun.  2020 Jun;15(1):1-9. 10.15715/kjhcom.2020.15.1.1.

Obesity prevalence and related factors by gender and socioeconomic level in Busan, Korea - comparison on the methods of measurement

• Choi M

• KMID: 2526464
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15715/kjhcom.2020.15.1.1

Abstract

Background
The purpose of this study was to identify the differences in socioeconomic level of self-reported and measured obesity indicators (weight, height, body mass index, and obesity prevalence) and to compare the differences between factors.
Methods
Data of 2,290,893 weighted cases from the 2018 community health surveys in Busan were used to calculate self-reported and measured obesity and the prevalence of obesity. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio of self-reported and measured obesity.
Results
The mean differences between self-reported and measured height, weight, and BMI were 0.53 cm, 0.66 kg, and 0.37 kg/m² for men and 0.74 cm, 0.81 kg, and 0.55 kg/m² for women, respectively. Self-reported and measured obesity prevalence rates were 35.36% and 40.79% in men and 20.55% and 27.16% in women, respectively. The difference between measured and self-reported values was high in the lower socioeconomic level group. Measured obesity, but not self-reported obesity, was significantly higher in the lower socioeconomic level group (level 3, odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.56).
Conclusions
These results indicate a requirement for obesity management policies for women with lower socioeconomic status.

Keyword

Obesity; Self-reported obesity; measured obesity; Health disparity; CHS