Socioeconomic Factors Relating to Obesity and Inadequate Nutrient Intake in Women in Low Income Families Residing in Seoul

Ji-Yun Hwang; Sung Yeap Ru; Han Kyoung Ryu; Hee Jung Park; Wha Young Kim

doi:10.4163/kjn.2009.42.2.171

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Hwang, Ru, Ryu, Park, and Kim: Socioeconomic Factors Relating to Obesity and Inadequate Nutrient Intake in Women in Low Income Families Residing in Seoul

Original Article

Korean Journal of Nutrition

Korean Journal of Nutrition 2009; 42(2): 171-182.

Published online: 31 March 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2009.42.2.171

Socioeconomic Factors Relating to Obesity and Inadequate Nutrient Intake in Women in Low Income Families Residing in Seoul

Ji-Yun Hwang¹, Sung Yeap Ru², Han Kyoung Ryu¹, Hee Jung Park³, Wha Young Kim¹

¹Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.

²The Catholic University of Korea, St. Paul's Hospital, Seoul 130-709, Korea.

³CJ Corp. Foods R&D, Seoul 152-050, Korea.

To whom correspondence should be addressed. (wykim@ewha.ac.kr)

Received 5 January 2009 Revised 30 January 2009 Accepted 20 February 2009

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate socioeconomic factors relating to obesity and inadequate nutrient intake in women in low income families residing in Seoul. The subjects were 125 women (aged 41-87 y) recruited from the local health center for free health examination for low income families. The socioeconomic status such as educational level, income level, and housing condition were poor. For subjects aged less than 65 years, the prevalence of obesity was 44% based on BMI (≥ 25 kg/m²), 48% based on WHR (≥ 0.85), and 50% based on waist circumference (≥ 80 cm) and for those more than 65 years, these were greater and 57%, 81%, and 79%, respectively. The main food sources of daily diet were vegetables, grains, and fruits. Energy and other nutrient intake was not adequate for all subjects and the inadequacy was more profound in the elderly, showing percentages of subjects whose intake was less than EAR were greater than 50% for all nutrients except for iron and below RI were also greater than 50% for all nutrients. The prevalence of obesity and nutrient inadequacy were not associated with socioeconomic status in subjects aged less than 65 years, however, obesity was associated with household income and nutrient inadequacy was related to education (vitamin A) and housing status (protein, phosphate, and iron) in the elderly. After adjustment for ages, in the elderly, OR for obesity (BMI ≥ 25, OR = 12.601; 95% CI = 2.338-67.911) and central obesity (WC ≥ 80 cm, OR = 4.778; 95% CI = 1.103-20.696) were greater in subjects who earned less than 500 thousand Won per month than who earned more. For inadequate nutrient intake, the OR for inadequate intake of Vitamin A (OR = 4.555; 95% CI = 1.491-13.914) was greater in subjects with no education than those educated. Subjects without her own house had greater risk for inadequate intake for protein (OR = 3.660; 95% CI = 1.118-11.981), phosphate (OR = 3.428; 95% CI = 1.157-10.158), and iron (OR = 3.765; 95% CI = 1.205-11.766) than subjects possessing her house. In elderly females in low income families, the socioeconomic status was associated with the risk for obesity (income level) and inadequate nutrient intake (education level and housing status). More attention on these groups should be given for prevention of obesity and inadequate nutrient intake.

Keywords: obesity, inadequate nutrient intake, low income families, education, socioeconomic status

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

The average daily food intakes of animal, plant, and total foods (A for < 65 years and B for ≥ 65 years) and of each food group (C for < 65 years and D for ≥ 65 years) of subjects (n=125).

Fig. 2

The average nutrient intake (numbers in the broken line box) and percentages of subjects whose intake was less than estimated energy intake (EER)/estimated average requirements (EAR)(░) and recommended nutrient intake (RI)(▓) according to ages (n=125).

Table 1

General characteristics of the subjects¹⁾

1) Values are n (%). Calculated using an exact test (if expected frequency is less then 5 for a cell) or χ² test (otherwise). 2) Data for 123 subjects 3) Data for 113 subjects 4) Data for 121 subjects

Table 2

Body composition and blood profiles of the subjects according to ages¹⁾

1) Values derived from general linear regression models are provided as age-adjusted means (±SE). Calculated using Student's t-test. 2) These values were computed on the log scale and retransformed for tabulation. 3) Data for 110 subjects. 4) Data for 123 subjects. 5) Data for 115 subjects. 6) Data for 84 subjects. 7) Data for 122 subjects

Table 3

Percentages of subjects with obesity and whose intake was less than EER and EAR according to socioeconomic status and ages¹⁾

1) Values are n (%). Calculated using an exact test (if expected frequency is less then 5 for a cell) or χ² test (otherwise). 2) EER: estimated energy requirement of Korean DRI. 3) EAR: estimated average requirement of Korean DRI

Table 4

OR and 95% CI for obesity and inadequate intake according to socioeconomic status in elderly females¹⁾

1) Adjusted for age. 2) EER: estimated energy requirement of Korean DRI. 3) EAR: estimated average requirement of Korean DRI

Notes

This work was supported by the second stage of BK21 Project in 2008.

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