Author(s)

Duan-Rung Chen^1*, Leah M. Frerichs²

¹Institute of Health Policy and Management, Public Health Building, National Taiwan University, Taipei City.
²College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA.

Obesity is a problem with global health and economic consequences. This study assesses the impact of social origins and socio-economic disadvantages on mid-life body weight. Hypotheses of both critical early life period and social trajectory were tested using a sample of 845 adults, aged 45 to 69 years, from a nationally representative sample in 2009 Taiwan Social Change Survey. The study found evidence of a significant gender-specific heterogeneity of social origins on obesity risk. Men with accumulated disadvantage had increased BMI, but no significant accumulative trajectories were found among women. Obesity prevention must consider factors beyond behavioral change, and include a focus on social origins and gender identity.

Obesity Risk, Social Class, Social Trajectory

Chen, D. and Frerichs, L. (2014) Gender, Social Origins and Accumulated Disadvantages Associated with Mid-Life Body Weight in Taiwan. Health, 6, 2399-2407. doi: 10.4236/health.2014.618276.