Social and Psychological Predictors of Body Mass Index among South Africans 15 Years and Older

Sanhanes-1

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15459201
AutoresZandile June‐Rose Mchiza (0000-0003-2515-9184, University of the Western Cape, autor de correspondencia), Whadi‐ah Parker (Human Sciences Research Council), Muhammad Zakir Hossin (0000-0002-9078-419X, Karolinska Institutet), Amy Heshmati (Stockholm University), Demetre Labadarios (0000-0001-7065-2360, Stellenbosch University), Daniel Falkstedt (0000-0003-4441-7003, Karolinska Institutet), Ilona Koupil (0000-0002-7034-1922, Stockholm University)
Año2019
Volumen16
Número20
Páginas3919-3919
Fecha de publicación2019-10-15
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditorialMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph16203919
OpenAlexW2980548131
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6
Referencias citadas18

This study investigated how psychological distress and the proxies for social position combine to influence the risk of both underweight and overweight in South Africans aged 15 years and older. This was a cross-sectional study that included 2254 men and 4170 women participating in the first South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1). An analysis exploring the associations of social and mental health characteristics with body mass index (BMI) was conducted using binary and multinomial logistic regressions. Results suggested that, overall, women had a higher risk of overweight/obesity compared to men (age-adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.65; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 3.94–5.50). The gender effect on BMI was smaller in non-African participants (AOR 3.02; 95% CI 2.41–3.79; p-value for interaction = 0.004). Being employed and having a higher level of education were associated with higher risks of overweight and obesity and a lower risk of underweight. Being single or without a spouse and poor mental health were found to increase the odds of being underweight, especially in men. To conclude, there are strong social gradients and important gender and ethnic differences in how BMI is distributed in the South African population

Body mass index · Confidence interval · Ethnic group · Logistic regression · Mental distress · Mental health · Obesity · Odds · Odds ratio · Overweight · Population · Psychiatry · Sociology · Spouse · Underweight · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Gerontology