Race/ethnicity, gender and the SES gradient in BMI

The diminishing returns of SES for racial/ethnic minorities

Bibliographic Data

ID2249884
AuthorsGabriele Ciciurkaite (0000-0001-8496-4031, Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Utah State University Utah USA), 耕史 古庄, 修二 池辺
Year2021
Volume43
Issue8
Pages1754-1773
Publication date2021-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.13267
OpenAlexW33884635
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited78

Using the 2013-2016 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study uses the case of obesity to examine whether and to what extent racial and ethnic minorities experience fewer benefits from higher SES relative to their white counterparts. Study results provide support for the diminishing returns in health hypothesis and add an intersectional dimension to this perspective by uncovering stark gendered racial/ethnic disparities in BMI. Specifically, research findings demonstrate that higher income and education is associated with lower BMI among white but not black or Mexican American adults. The most substantial decrease in BMI associated with increase in individual-level SES was observed among white women. Taken together, empirical evidence from this study underscores difficulty in overcoming adverse health effects of lower ascribed status (i.e. gender or race/ethnicity) even with attainment of higher achieved social status (i.e. educational attainment or income) and offers promising avenues for future research on identifying complex hierarchies that shape population health outcomes

Computer Science · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet

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