The Geography of Obesity
January 3rd, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Where you live and how much your home is worth might be one of the best predictors of your risk for obesity.
Washington State researchers who studied obesity rates according to zip codes in King County found rates ranged from 30 percent in the poorest neighborhoods to just 5 percent in the wealthiest. Zip codes were evaluated for wealth based on the average value of a home in the area.
Researchers also found higher obesity rates among African-Americans and those with annual incomes less than $15,000. But the association between zip codes and property values was stronger.
“Obesity is an economic issue,” study author Adam Drewnowski, director of the University of Washington Center for Obesity Research, was quoted as saying. “Knowing more about the geography of obesity will allow us to identify the most vulnerable neighborhoods.”
The research was made possible because Washington state records obesity rates according to zip codes. Previous studies based on federal maps showing only small differences in obesity in richer and poorer states were not privy to such detailed information, something Dr. Drewnowski and his colleagues note has led to the misleading assumption obesity doesn’t discriminate based on wealth.
“Our research shows that geography, social class, and economic standing all play huge roles in the obesity problem. Some of the most disadvantaged areas — those hardest hit by low income, low education, and low property values — are also the ones most affected by the obesity epidemic.”
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Social Science and Medicine, published online Aug. 29, 2007