Obesity inequality and well-being in Germany

Fan Meng; Peng Nie; Alfonso Sousa-Poza

doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101236

Obesity inequality and well-being in Germany

Econ Hum Biol. 2023 Apr:49:101236. doi: 10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101236. Epub 2023 Feb 24.

Authors

Fan Meng¹, Peng Nie², Alfonso Sousa-Poza³

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Health Care & Public Management, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany. Electronic address: fan.meng@uni-hohenheim.de.
² Institute for Health Care & Public Management, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; School of Economics and Finance, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710061 Xi'an, China; IZA, Bonn, Germany; Health Econometrics and Data Group, University of York, United Kingdom. Electronic address: niep2015@uni-hohenheim.de.
³ Institute for Health Care & Public Management, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; IZA, Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: alfonso.sousa-poza@uni-hohenheim.de.

PMID: 36867949
DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101236

Abstract

Using 2002-2018 German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) data for German adults aged 18 + , this study measures changes in the body mass index (BMI) distribution and obesity inequality to estimate the relation between the latter and subjective well-being. In addition to documenting a significant association between the various measures of obesity inequality and subjective well-being, especially among women, we show a significant increase in obesity inequality, particularly among females and those with low education and/or low income. This rising inequality points to the need to combat obesity through initiatives targeted at specific sociodemographic groups.

Keywords: Germany; Obesity; Obesity inequality; Overweight; Subjective well-being.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Body Mass Index
Educational Status
Female
Germany / epidemiology
Humans
Obesity* / epidemiology
Poverty*
Socioeconomic Factors