[Associations between schooling, income, and body mass index among public employees at an university in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: the Pró-Saúde Study]

Cad Saude Publica. 2006 Nov;22(11):2359-67. doi: 10.1590/s0102-311x2006001100010.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

This study focuses on associations between schooling, income, and body mass index (BMI). The analyses are based on data from 3,963 public university employees in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, participating in phase 1 of a longitudinal study (the Pró-Saúde Study). ANOVA, Wald test, and generalized linear models were used to analyze differences between subgroups. Obesity prevalence was inversely associated with schooling, especially among women (p < 0.001). In regression analyses, schooling and per capita income were not associated with BMI among men. In women, schooling but not income was significantly and inversely associated with BMI (p < 0.001). Thus, low schooling plays an important role in the social determination of obesity, especially among women.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Educational Status*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Income*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Obesity / diagnosis
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Sex Distribution
  • Sex Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities