Association between socioeconomic status and obesity in 59,556 women

A study of 59,556 weight-conscious women in the United States who participated and supported this study is reported. A leader-directed confidential questionnaire was administered to small groups of TOPS Club women in 1969 and 1970, and obtained height, education, weight, age, family income, and husband's education.An inverse relationship between socioeconomic status (income) and obesity was found. The most important finding in the study was that the degree of obesity of the women was inversely related to their husband's education level, but not correlated with their own education level. The strength of the inverse relationship between income (or husband's education) and obesity was much less than that of a study conducted 20 yr ago. This suggests “melting pot” factors in our society which have reduced social class differences with regard to eating behavior and body image goals.